V-    .  -:     , 


110  RECORDS    OF    THE 

He  reached  Plymouth  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  bat 
tle,  and  to  be  taken  .prisoner. 

He  died  at  Andersonville  about  the  same  time  that  his 
brother  died. 

155.  PRATT,  PHILANDER,  Perry. — Miistered  in  at  Buf 
falo,  August  81st,  1862. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth ;  taken  to  Anderson 
ville,   and   died   at   that   place,    August   21st,    1864,  of 
chronic  diarrhoea. 
.   The  number  of  his  grave  is  6,455. 

Pratt  was  an  excellent  cannoneer,  ready  for  duty  and 
quick  at  his  work.  A  quiet  and  pleasant  comrade.  He  was 
one  of  the  useful  men  at  the  sawmill  at  Newport  Barracks. 

We  believe  that  in  the  later  days  at  Plymouth,  he  was 
promoted  corporal. 

• 

156.  PKINCE,  WILLIAM.— Enlisted  October  4th,  1864,  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  for  one   year.      Joined   at   Roanoke, 
November  22d,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

15*7.  PURDY,  S.  R.— Enlisted  at  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  Sep 
tember  29th,  1864.  Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.  Joined  for  duty  at  Roanoke, 
October  18th,  1864. 

158.  QUINN,  JOHN,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  November 
21st,  1861. 

At  Washington,  where  Battery  "  B,"  of  the  Rocket 
Battalion,  was  embarking  on  the  vessels  for  New  Berne, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  Ill 

Quinn  defended  one  of  the  Battery  boys  who  was  light 
and  small,  in  an  altercation  with  a  stronger  man,  a  sol 
dier  of  another  regiment.  The  soldier  drew  a  knife  and 
stabbed  Quinn  several  times ;  but,  notwithstanding  this, 
Quinn  continued  to  fight  until  he  had  taken  the  knife 
away  from  his  antagonist,  and  in  turn  given  him  several 
dangerous  plunges  of  the  weapon.  Upon  being  separa 
ted,  both  were  found  to  be  dangerously  wounded,  and 
were  removed  to  the  hospital. 

Quinn  never  returned  to  the  Battery. 

We  have  heard  that  he  was  residing  in  Portage. 

159.  RANKIN,  ERASTUS. — Enlisted  at  Rochester,  Octo 
ber  7th,  1864,  for  one  year.     Joined  at  Roanoke,  Decem 
ber  1st,  1864.   Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

160.  RATHBONE,  SYDNEY  S.,  Perry. — Enlisted  October 
3d,  1861.  Was  discharged  some  time  in  1862,  for  physical 
inability. 

His  historical  picture,  as  represented  by  the  older  por 
tion  of  the  Battery  boys,  was  that  of  a  "  Jolly  old  Ambu 
lance  driver." 

161.  RAWSON,    PORTER  D.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August 
26th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buifalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  appointed  artificer,  November  4th,  1862. 

Brought  up  in  a  radical  school,  he  believed  in  showing 
practically  his  political  tendencies.  He  left  his  family 
and  a  happy  home,  to  share  the  privations  and  the  suffer 
ings  of  his  fellows,  who  were  fighting  out  the  principles 


RECORDS 


OF 


24TH    INDEPENDENT    BATTERY, 


.  f.  P0M  iirttttoj),  1.  •».  f . 


COMPILED    BY    J.     W.    MERRILL, 

\  i 


PUBLISHED   FOR  THE 

J.ADIES1  CEMETERY  ASSOCIATION,  OF  PERRY,  N.  Y, 

1870. 


J.  O.  SEYMOUR,  KENNARD  &  HAT, 

Printers  and  Stationers, 
89  Liberty  Street,  New  York. 


2 

2 


CONTENTS 


PART  L 
INTRODUCTION. 

COMPANY  ROLL. 

List  of  names  of  members  who  were  killed  in  battle — -List  of  names 
of  members  who  died  at  Andersonville — List  of  names  of  members 
who  died  at  Florence — List  of  names  of  members  who  died  at  Charles 
ton — List  of  names  of  members  who  died  after  reaching  Federal  Lines 
— List  of  names  of  members  who  died  of  disease  in  United  States  Hos 
pitals — List  of  names  of  members  who  died  at  their  homes  (while  yet 
in  the  United  States  service)— Official  roster  of  the  Rocket  Battalion- 
Official  roster  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery— List  of 
promotions  of  members  of  the  Twenty -fourth  New  York  Battery — 
List  of  volunteers  from  Perry  attached  to  other  army  organizations. 

PERSONAL  SKETCHES. 

1.  Members  of  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery.  2.  Other 
volunteer  soldiers  from  Perry. 


PART    I  L 

CHAPTER  I. 
THE  ROCKET  BATTALION, 

CHAPTER   II. 
THE  ROCKET. 

•* 

CHAPTER    III, 
BATTERY  B, 


M208964 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    IV. 
THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 


CHAPTER  V. 
NEWPORT  BARRACKS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

KlNSTON,   GOLDSBORO'   AND   WHITEHALL. 

CHAPTER   VII. 
NEW  BERNE. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
PLYMOUTH. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  PLYMOUTH. 

CHAPTER  X. 
THE  CAPTURE  OP  PLYMOUTH. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
ANDERSONVILLE. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
FACTS  AND  THEORIES. 


APPENDIX. 


INTEODtrOTIOK. 


The  object  of  publishing  this  work  is : — 

1st — To  place  in  permanent  record  the  experiences,  adventures  and 
sufferings  of  that  brave  band  of  young  men,  ..who  composed  the 
organization  entitled  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Independent  Bat 
tery  of  Light  Artillery. 

2d — To  prompt  the  reader  to  the  fact,  that  the  services  of  all  these 
patriotic  men,  who  left  their  families  and  their  firesides,  to  battle  for 
their  country,  who  pledged  and  offered  up  their  lives,  that  you  might 
continue  life  in  peace,  prosperity  and  freedom,  have  never  been  in  a 
public  manner,  properly  recognized. 

Although  the  memory  of  those  who  died  while  engaged  in  suppress 
ing  the  Great  Rebellion  is  more  particularly  dear  to  their  relatives 
and  friends,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  cherished  by  all  loyal  people. 

No  County  in  the  United  States  was  more  loyal  than  Wyoming 
County — none  more  enthusiastic,  none  more  generous,  when  they 
started  the  boys  off  to  the  wars. 

No  County  has  better  reasons  for  being  proud  of  its  representatives 
in  the  war. 

None  has  had  greater  cause  to  mourn. 

Is  there  less  of  that  sentiment  of  loyalty  in  their  hearts  to-day  ?  Is 
there  less  of  generosity  ?  Is  there  no  gratitude  ?  Can  they  forget  so 
soon  ? 

Let  a  practical  answer  to  these  questions  be  a  strong  endeavor  to 
purchase  and  erect  a  monument,  in  some  sightly  position,  at  the  sight 
of  which,  passers-by  in  our  times  shall  say — "  These  people  do  their 
noble  dead  a  deserved  honor."  And  future  generations  shall  learn 
from  it  of  the  heroic  deeds  and  of  the  sufferings  of  the  young  men 
of  this  generation,  who  helped  to  fight  the  battles  that  finally  won  for 
us  and  for  them  a  country  freed  from  oppression,  tyranny  and  wrong. 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

In  our  families  we  grieve  over  the  loss  of  any  dear  member  ;  it  is  a 
gratification  to  us  to  show  our  love  and  our  respect  by  rearing  marble 
slabs  and  shafts,  keeping  in  decency  and  order  their  burial  grounds, 
and  decorating  their  graves  with  plants  and  flowers.  Far  away  in 
sunny  Southern  lands,  and  just  so  far  away  from  loving  hearts  and 
hands,  lies  one  who  is  as  dear  to  you,  perhaps,  as  any  who  sleep  in 
your  own  home  burial  ground. 

A  number  on  a  whitened  board  is  all  that  marks  each  individual 
resting  place.  Shall  that  remain  the  only  remembrance  of  their  suf 
ferings,  their  heroism,  and  their  death  V 

I  say  again,  injustice  is  done  the  dead,  who  did  these  noble  deeds, 
and  who  suffered  these  appalling  tortures. 

Their  simple  story  is  eloquence.  Let  its  pathos  be  a  power  to  influ 
ence  you  to  respond  with  heart  and  purse,  to  the  call  to  acknowledge 
their  heroism  and  their  offices,  by  erecting  to  their  memory  a  monu 
ment,  which,  like  their  heroic  acts,  shall  be  perfect,  be  grand,  be 
forever. 

Act  as  enthusiastically,  and  give  as  generously,  as  you  did  when 
they  responded  to  their  country's  call. 

I  would  particularly  call  the  attention  of  the  surviving  members  of 
the  Battery  to  the  object  for  which  this  book  has  been  written  and 
published,  and  ask  them  to  give  aid  towards  the  accomplishment  of 
this  sacred  undertaking. 

All  of  you  have  passed  many  pleasant  hours  with  these,  our  com 
rades,  whose  deeds  we  would  memorize.  In  earlier  days,  they  were 
our  playmates  and  schoolmates.  In  later  days,  we  were  in  friendly 
contest  for  the  honors  of  college,  or  in  rivalry  with  them  in  mercantile 
pursuits. 

Finally,  under  the  loved  banner  of  our  country,  hand  in  hand  we 
battled  for  the  right  and  victory. 

By  the  kindly  interpositions  of  Divine  Providence  we  live  ;  by  the 
decree  of  the  same  power  they  were  called  away  from  us  and  from  all 
that  was  dear  to  them  on  earth. 

Let  us  then,  as  we  esteemed  and  honored  them  in  life,  continue  so 
to  do,  in  such  honorable  death. 


The  compilation  of  this  work,  neither  demands  nor  affords  oppor 
tunity  or  place  for  a  display  of  composition,  words,  theories,  ideas, 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

or  of  any  of  the  properties  which  are  considered  essential  to  perfect  and 
beautify  a  book.  It  resolves  itself  into  a  simple  narrative  of  the  pleas, 
ant  and  sad  experiences  of  one  small  band  of  men  among  many  thou 
sands  such,  that  participated  in  putting  down  the  Great  Rebellion. 
It  is  collected  from  the  records  at  the  War  Department,  correspondence 
of  local  papers,  private  diaries  and  private  correspondence.  It  conse 
quently,  naturally  assumes  a  tone  of  familiarity. 

It  is  of  interest  to  but  few  ;  but  to  that  few,  how  intensely  interest 
ing.  To  them,  I  believe,  the  story  will  be  most  attractive  and  most 
satisfying  in  its  simplest  garb ;  the  facts  that  appear  in  these  pages, 
need  no  touch  of  fancy's  brush,  to  bring  out  a  vivid  scene  of  despair 
and  sorrow. 

Have  we  not  all  in  our  younger  days,  when  the  mild  Spring  atmos 
phere  has  converted  the  crusted  snow  into  a  surface  resembling  thin 
sheets  of  cotton,  participated  in  the  merry  sport  of  rolling  up  huge 
snow  balls?  The  handful  of  snow,  rounded  by  hardy  little  fists, 
dropped  into  the  adhering  mass,  was  pushed  along,  and  gradually 
assumed  larger  and  larger  proportions,  until  it  increased  to  a  magni 
tude  satisfactory  to  the  wishes  of  the  juvenile  laborers.  Then  it  was 
wondered  at  and  admired,  and  each  little  mind  was  proud  of  the  por 
tion  of  the  work  it  had  done  towards  bringing  it  to  such  perfection. 
But  another  day  came,  the  sun  poured  down  its  rays,  and  the  structure 
quickly,  and  almost  invisibly,  melted  away.  In  tracing  its  history,  we 
find  such  to  be  comparatively  the  beginning,  the  perfection  and  the 
annihilation  of  the  organization  called  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York 
Battery.  In  October,  1861,  a  handful  of  Perry  boys  enlisted  in  the 
sendee  of  the  United  States  as  Artillerymen.  To  this  nucleus  was 
gradually  added  recruits,  until  finally,  in  December,  1863,  it  was  a 
complete  Six  Gun  Battery,  of  125  men.  How  it  worked,  and  what  it 
did  during  its  eventful  career,  from  its  entrance  to  its  exit,  is  told  in 
the  following  pages. 

A  warm  Spring  day  was  April  20th,  1864;  the  enemy  came  in  over 
powering  numbers,  the  Company  was  captured,  and  silently,  gradu 
ally,  the  members  of  the  organization  passed  away,  until  a  little  rem 
nant  was  mustered  out  of  service,  at  Albany,  in  the  Spring  of  1865. 
As  men,  we  had  but  reproduced  our  boyhood's  play,  and  worked  hard 
to  roll  the  ball  to  a  satisfactory  shape  and  size,  only  to  see  it  quickly 
and  like  a  vapor  pass  away. 


COMPANY  EOLL, 
24th  New  York  Battery  of  Light  Artillery. 


t                                        

—  •  ^  • 
OFFICERS: 

LEE,  J.  E. 

HASTINGS,  GEORGE  S. 

CADY,  LESTER 

A.                   GRAHAM,  GEORGE  W. 

PRIVATES. 

1    Adams,  Abner 

34    Calhoun,  G.  W. 

2    Ainsworth,  R.  C. 

35    Calteaux,  Paul 

3    Ainsworth,  William 

36    Calkins,  James 

4    Alburty,  Wm. 

37    Camp,  William  S. 

5    Alburty,  F.  M. 

38    Camp,  George 

6    Allen,  Z. 

39    Canfield,  S.  D. 

7    Andrus,  Lemuel 

40    Carnahan,  William 

8    Andrews,  Mark 

41    Carnahan,  Charles 

9    Armstrong,  Wm. 

42    Chapman,  John 

10    Armstrong,  J.  II. 

43    Chadbourne,  Henry 

11    Atwood,  George  S. 

44    Chapin,  William  E. 

12    Ansbacher,  Moses 

45    Clark,  C.  A. 

46    Clute,  H.  V. 

13    Baker,  John 

47    Comstock,  A.  W. 

14    Barker,  Gustavus 

48    Cook,  Harlo 

15    Barnes,  Roswell  II. 

49    Corbin,  B.F. 

16    Bartley,  John 

50    Corkwell,  John 

17    Bartlett,  Hartwell 

51    Cowen,  James 

18    Bachelder,  B.  F. 

52    Crooker,  W.  W. 

19    Beers,  L.  M. 

53    Crooks,  J. 

20    Birdsall,  George 

54    Crosby,  Morton 

21    Billingham,  Ira 

55    Crounce,  George 

22    Blood,  Wm. 

56    Cusick,  Hiram 

23    Blake,  W.  D. 

57    Culver,  A.  L. 

24    Boies,  Edwin 

58    Cypher,  George  W. 

25    Brooks,  John  A. 

26    Brayton,  Rufus 

59    Davis,  Ornau 

27    Brown,  George 

60    Dolbeer,  C.  H. 

28    Bullock,  Robert 

61    Duryea,  George 

29    Bulkley,  W.  E. 

62    Duryea,  Joseph 

30    Bulkley,  Chas. 

81    Buck,  Robert 

63    Eastwood,  Edwin 

32    Button,  James 

33    Burd,  H.  C. 

64    Farrell,  Philemon 

COMPANY   ROLL. 


65  Ferrin,  J.  T. 

66  Ferguson,  Andrew  T. 

67  Filbin,  John 

68  Finnigan,  Dennis 

69  Fitch,  Charles  W. 

70  Fitzgerald,  Thomas 

71  Fitzpatrick,  Pierce 

72  Flynn,  James 

73  Foster,  Henry 

74  Galusha,  J.  E. 

75  Goodhue,  D.  W. 

76  Gould,  Willard 

77  Grant,  Murray 

78  Green,  Lawrence 

79  Griffith,  Charles  R. 

80  Griffith,  Albert 

81  Grisewood,  Thomas 

82  Hart,  Charles 

as  Harmon,  John  C. 

84  Harrington,  M. 

85  Hastings,  Fred.  E. 

86  Hathaway,  Charles 

87  Hinton,  W.  H. 

88  Holman,  George  A. 

89  Hollister,  Benjamin  H. 

90  Homan,  Chas.  H. 

91  Horton,  Chas. 

92  Hosford,  W.  F. 

93  Hoyt,  Wilbur  M. 

94  Hubbard,  H. 

95  Hughson,  Wallace  E. 

96  Humphrey,  Arthur 

97  Humphrey,  Chas. 

98  Hunter,  E.  H. 

99  Hurlburt,  E.  T.  M. 

100  Jackson,  Dan'l. 

101  Johnson,  Geo.  B. 

102  Keeney,  George  W. 

103  Keith,  G.  H. 

104  Kellogg,  Geo.  W. 

105  Ketchum,  R.  A. 

106  King,  Sylvanus 

107  Knowlden,  Henry  C. 


108  Lapham,  L.  H. 

109  Lapham,  Horace 

110  Lawler,  E. 

111  Lee,  Abram 

112  Lent,  Abram 

113  Leonard,  Francis 

114  Lloyd,  H.  P. 

115  Loomis,  Hiram 

116  McClair,  Jerry 

117  McCrary,  Orrin  S. 

118  McCrary,  Wm.  A. 

119  McCrary,  Charles 

120  McCrink,  John 

121  McCrink,  James 

122  McDonald,  Arch'd. 

123  McEwen,  Geo.  W. 

124  McGuire,  Thos. 

125  McGuire,  James 

126  McGuire,  Michael 

127  McNinch,  Henry 

128  McVey,  James 

129  Marean,  Chas.  A. 

130  Man-in,  Patrick 

131  Marrin,  Connor 

132  Martin,  H.  C. 

133  Meade,  Geo.  F.  H. 

134  Merrill,  J.  W. 

135  Miller,  George 

136  Miner,  J.  Gile 

137  Mosier,  Marion  R. 

138  Munroe,  Darius 

139  Murray,  W.  R. 

140  Newcomb,L. 

141  Newton,  RileyJ. 

142  Nichols,  Samuel 

143  Nichols,  William  P. 

144  Otis,  F.  D. 

145  Otis,  Chas. 

146  O'Dell,  Thos. 

147  Page,  H.  C. 

148  Page,  Wm.  N. 

149  Parmlee,  O.  G.    ' 

150  Patterson,  Wm. 


10 


COMPANY    ROLL. 


151  Perkins,  Jas.  W. 

152  Phelan,  Chas.  T. 

153  Piper,  Geo.  W. 

154  Piper,  A. 

155  Pratt,  Philander 

156  Prince,  William 

157  Purdy,  S.  R. 

158  Quinn,  John 

159  Rankin,  Erastus 

160  Rathbone,  Sydney  S. 

161  Rawson,  Porter  D. 

162  Raymond,  Henry 

163  Rich,  Thurmon 

164  Richards,  Elias 

165  Richards,  Albert 

166  Richardson,  Orlando 

167  Roach,  Wm. 

168  Rood,  Le  Grand  D. 

169  Root,  Hiram 

170  Root,  Stephen 

171  Rowell,  Solon 

172  Russell,  Enoch  J. 

173  Russell,  John  A. 

174  Russell,  John 


175 
176 

177 
178 
179 
180 
181 
182 


Sackett,  Walter 
Stafford,  Pembroke  J. 
Sanford,  L.  J. 
Secor,  A.  J. 
Shank,  Laban  H. 
Shell,  John 
Sheppard,  Nelson 
Shirley,  Phares 


183  Shockensey,  Timothy  F. 

184  Smith,  Mason  C. 

185  Smith,  J.  W. 

186  Stevens,  Geo.  W. 

187  Stoddard,  Samuel 

188  Storms,  Thomas  S. 

189  Sunderland,  Charles 

190  Sunfield,  James 

191  Thayer,  Lewis  P. 

192  Tilton,  Henry 

193  Tirrell,  Samuel 

194  Truair,  O.  M. 

195  Turner,  Robt. 

196  Van  Buren,  Sylvester 

197  Wardwell,  E.  H. 

198  Washington,  George 

199  Wayne,  Joseph 

200  Welch,  Edward 

201  Weller,  Jacob  H. 

202  Wetmore,  Chauncey 

203  Whitney,  Hamilton  S. 

204  Whitney,  W.  A. 

205  Whitbeck,  Henry 

206  Williams,  Oliver 

207  Williams,  Thos. 

208  Winne,  B.  V.  L. 

209  Wood,  Emmett 

210  Woolsey,  John 

211  Woolsey,  Etting 

212  Wright,  George  G. 

213  Yancer,  J.  D. 


LIST    OF    DEATHS. 


List  of  Names  of  Members  who  were  killed  in  Battle. 

Fitzpatrick,  Pierce  Meade,  Geo.  F.  H. 

Hoyt,  Wilbur  M.  Turner,  Robert 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who  died  at  Andersonmlle 
Prison. 

Albnrty,  Wm.  Hathaway,  Chas. 

Armstrong,  Wm.  Hosford,  W.  F. 

Atwood,  George  S.  Hunter,  E.  H. 

Baker,  John  Johnson,  Geo.  B. 

Barnes,  Roswell  Keeney,  Geo.  W. 

Bartlett,  Hartwell  King,  Sylvanus 

Bachelder,  B.  F.  Lapham,  L.  H. 

Blake,  W.  D.  Lee,  Abram 

Button,  James  Lent,  Abram 

Calteaux,  Paul  McCrink,  John 

Calkins,  James  McDonald,  Arch'd 

Carnahan,  Chas.  Marean,  Chas.  A. 

Chadbourne,  Henry  Martin,  H.  C. 

Clute,  H.  V.  Miner,  J.  Gile 

Comstock,  A.  W.  Newton,  Riley  J. 

Corbin,  B.  F.  Pratt,  Philander 

Crosby,  Morton  Rich,  Thurmon 

Crounce,  George  Rood,  Le  Grand  D. 

Culver,  A.  L.  Safford,  Pembroke  J. 

Eastwood,  Edwin  Shank,  Laban  H. 

Filbin,  John  Shirley,  Phares 

Fitch,  Chas.  W.  Shockensey,  Timothy  F. 

Fitzgerald,  Thos.  Smith,  Mason  C. 

Flynn,  James  Tilton,  Henry 

Griffith,  Chas.  R.  Welch,  Edward 

Griffith,  Albert  Williams,  Oliver 
Wood,  Emmett 


LIST   OF   DEATHS. 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who  died  at  Florence  Prison. 

Bartley,  John  Piper,  Geo.  W. 

Blood,  William  Piper,  A. 

Brooks,  John  Root,  Stephen 

McCrary,  Orrin  S.  Stevens,  Geo.  W. 

McCrink,  James  Tirrell,  Samuel 

McNinch,  Henry  Wetmore,  Clmuncey 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who   died   at   Charleston 
Prison. 

Ainsworth,  William  Rawson,  Porter  D. 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who  died  after  reaching  the 
Federal  Lines. 

Galusha,  J.  E.  Nichols,  Samuel 

Nichols,  William  P. 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who  died  in  United  States  Ser 
vice,  of  Disease. 

Anclrus,  Lemuel  McCrary,  Wm.  A. 

Beers,  L.  M.  McGuire,  Michael 

Bray  ton,  Rufus  Munroe,  Dariua 

Grant,  Murray  Otis,  F.  D. 

Keith,   G.  H.  Truair,  O.  M. 

List  of  Names  of  Members  who  died  at  their  Homes 
(while  yet  in  the  United  States  Service}. 

Billingham,  Ira  McVey,  James 


ROCKET   BATTALION. 


13 


(From  Official  report  of  the  Adjutant- General  of  the  State  of  New 

York,  1868.) 

Rocket  Battalion.* 

This  battalion  was  raised  and  organized  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  to  serve  three  years.  It  was  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  December  6,  1861,  and 
changed  to  the  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-fourth  Inde 
pendent  Batteries  New  York  Artillery,  February  11, 
1863. 


NAME. 

Date  of  Com 
mission. 

Date  of  Rank. 

Remarks. 

Major: 
Thomas  M.  Lyon  

Captains  : 
Alfred  Ransom  

Jay  E  Lee 

Dec.    9,1861 

Dec.    9,1861 
Dec.    9  1861 

Dec.    7,  1861 

Nov.  12,  1861 
Oct.   26  1861 

Discharged  June  28,  1862. 

Transferred  to  23d  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 
Transferred  to  24th  Indepen 

First  Lieutenants  : 
Henry  W.  Dodge  
Samuel  Kittinger,  Jr.. 

George  S.  Hastings... 
Lester  A.  Cady  

Second  Lieutenants: 
Samuel  Kittinger,  Jr.  . 

Thomas  Law  

Dec.    9,  1861 
May  13,1862 

Sept.  13,  1862 
Dec.    9,  1861 

Dec.    9,  1861 
May  13,1862 

Dec.    7,1861 
Apr.  27,1862 

Aug.  30,  1862 
Oct.  26,1861 

Nov.  12,1861 
Apr.  27,1862 

dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 

Resigned  April  27,  1862. 
Transferred  to  23d  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 
Transferred  to  24th  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11.  1863. 
Transferred  to  24th  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieuten 
ant  May  13.  1862. 
Transferred  to  23d  Indepen 

Charles  C.  T.  Keith... 
George  M.  Graham.  .  . 
Frederick  E.  Hastings 

Mar.  10,1862 
Dec.    9,  1861 
June  17,  1862 

Jan.     2,  1862 
Dec.    7,  1861 
June   2,1862 

dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 
Transferred  to  23d  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 
Transferred  to  24th  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 
Transferred  to  24th  Indepen 
dent  Battery  Feb.  11,  1863. 

*  Changed  to  the  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-fourth  Independent  Batteries  of 
Artillery,  New  York  Volunteers,  by  S.  O.  No.  81,  A.  G.  O.,  Albany,  February,  11, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    BATTERY    LIGHT   ARTILLERY. 


(From  Official  report  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  1808.) 

Twenty-fourth   Battery  Light  Artillery. 

This  Battery  (formerly  Company  B,  Rocket  Battalion) 
was  organized  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  to  serve  three  years. 
It  was  raised,  principally,  in  the  counties  of  Monroe  and 
Wyoming.  Mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  December  6, 1861.  On  the  expiration  of  its  term 
of  service  the  original  members  (except  veterans)  were 
mustered  out,  and  the  veterans  and  recruits  transferred  to 
the  Third  Regiment  New  York  Artillery,  March  8, 1865. 

KINSTON  ;  WHITEHALL  ;   GOLDSBORO'  ;  NEW  BERNE  ; 
PLYMOUTH. 


NAME. 

Date  of  Com 
mission. 

Date  of  Rank. 

Remarks. 

Captains  : 
Jay  E.  Lee  ) 
(Brevet  Lt.-Col.  N.  Y.  V.  [ 
d-  Brevet  Lt.-Col.r.S.V.)  \ 
Lester  A.  Cady  
William  W.  Crooker  

First  Lieutenants  : 
George  S.  Hastings  j 
(Brevet  Colonel  N.  T.  V.)  \ 
William  S.  Camp  
Lester  A    Cady 

Dec.    9,  1861 

June  23,  1863 
Jan,  28,1865 

Sept.  13,  1862 

Jan.  28,1865 
Dec.    9,  1861 

Oct.  26,1861 

June  13,  1863 
Jan.  10,1865 

Aug.  30,  1862 

Dec.  28,1864 
Oct  26  1861 

Resigned  June  13,  1863. 

Discharged  Dec.  29,  '64. 
Not  mustered. 

Discharged  Jan.  4,  1865. 

Discharged  March  8,  '65. 
Promoted  Captain  June 

Frederick  E.  Hastings.  .  .  ) 
(Brevet  Captain  N.  Y.  V.  }• 
&  Brevet  Major  U.  S.  V.  } 

Second  Lieutenants  : 
George  W.  Graham  

Edward  H.  Ward  well  
Lucius  S.  Newcomb  
Frederick  E.  Hastings  

Charles  H  Dolbeer 

June  23,  1863 

Dec.    9,  1861 

Apr.  24,  1863 
Jan.  28,1865 
June  17,  1862 

June  23  1863 

June  13,  1863 

Dec.  7,1861 

Apr.  15.1863 
Jan.  10,1865 
June  2,1862 

June  13  1863 

23,  1863. 
Discharged  Jan.  22,  '65. 

Transferred  to  3d  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  Dec.  24,  1863. 
Resigned  Aug.  30,  1864. 
Not  mustered. 
Promoted  to  First  Lieu 
tenant  June  23,  1863. 
Discharged  Jan.  22,  '65. 

*Chas  F.W.F  De  Werner 

Resigned  May  31,  1862. 

*  On  records  of  War  Department ;  not  commissioned. 


LIST   OF   PROMOTIONS. 


15 


List  of   Promotions  to   Commissions. 


NAME. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Remarks. 

Major: 
Lloyd  HP                 ...... 

Tan     24     1  Rfi*> 

Captains  : 
Cady   Lester  A    .... 

June  23    1863 

Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery 

Canfleld,  S.  D  
Crocker    W    W. 

Jan     28    1865 

Twenty  -fourth  New  York  Battery 

Graham,  George  W  
Lee   J  E           ...            ..  ) 

Dec.     9,   1861 
Dec      9    1861 

Third  New  York  Cavalry. 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery 

(Brevet  Lt.-Cd.  N.  T.  V.  &  } 
Brevet  Lt.-  Col.  U.S.  V.)     j 
Lloyd    H    P 

Tnlv    19     1Sfi4 

First  Lieutenants: 

Sept  10    1863 

Twentieth  New  York  Battery 

Camp,  William  S  
Canfipld    S   D         

Jan.  '  28^  1865 

Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 

Clark  C  A 

Tnlv      ^     IRfi'S 

Twentieth  New  York  Battery 

Cady,  Lester  A  
Hastings,  George  S  I 
(Brevet  Colonel  fr.  T.  V.)        j 
Hastings,  Fred.  E  ) 
(Brevet  Captain  N.  T.  V.  &  \ 
Brei-et  Major  U.  S.  V.)        ) 
Kellogg,  George  W  
Lloyd,TH.  P  
McVey  James     

Dec.     9,  1861 
Sept.  13,   1862 

June  23,   1863 

Oct.    81,   1864 
July    12,   1864 
\U(T    31     1863 

Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 

Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 

Third  New  York  Battery, 
Twenty-second  New  York  Cavalry. 
Third  New  York  Artillery. 

Newcomb,  Lucius  S  
Wardwell,  E.  H  

July'     5^   1865 

Third  New  York  Artillery. 

Second  Lieutenants  : 
Adams,  Abner  

Clark,  C  A    

Feb.  20.   1863 
(Mar.  29,  1864 

Dolbeer,  C.  H  
Graham  George  W  . 

)  Feb.   1,   1865 
June  23,  1863 
Dec      9    1861 

Hastings,  Fred  E 

June  I?'   1862 

Kellogg  George  W. 

Jan      8    1864 

McClair,  Jerry  
McVev.  James  S... 

Ane-.  31.    1863 

Merrill,  J.  W j  April  20,   1864 

Newcomb,  Lucius  S !  Jan.    28,  1865 

Page,  Wm.  N j 

Wardwell,  E.  H |  April  24,  1863 


First  N.C.U.V. 
Sixteenth  New  York  Artillery. 
Twentieth  New  York  Battery. 
Twenty -fourth  New  York  Battery. 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 
Third  New  York  Battery. 

Third  New  York  Artillery. 
Second  New  York  Artillery. 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery. 
Fourth  Artillery. 
Twenty -fourth  New  York  Battery. 


PERSONAL    SKETCHES. 


After  the  compilation  of  this  work  was  deemed  advis 
able  by  the  writer  and  his  friends,  the  following  Circular 
was  sent  to  every  member  of  the  Battery  whose  address 
could  be  ascertained  : 

NEW  YORK,  January  21st,  1869. 
MY  DEAR  SIR: 

For  some  time  I  have  been  employing  my  leisure 
hours  in  searching  for  matters  and  documents  relating  to 
the  "  TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY." 

I  want  to  possess  a  complete  record  of  its  entire  pro 
gress  from  its  organization  up  to  the  time  it  was  dis 
banded,  and  the  further  personal  history  of  each  indi 
vidual  member  to  the  present  time. 

I  find  I  have  undertaken  a  difficult  task,  and  I  am 
obliged  to  ask  your  assistance,  Will  you  not  oblige  me, 
therefore,  by  answering  the  following  questions : — 

When  and  where  did  you  enlist  ? 

When  and  where  were  you  mustered  in  ? 

When  and  where  were  you  mustered  out  ? 

Did  you  re-enlist  as  a  Veteran  ? 


PERSONAL    SKETCHES.  IT 

Were  you  in  any  Skirmishes  or  Battles  ?  If  yes,  when 
and  where  ? 

Were  you  in  any  Southern  Prisons?  If  yes,  what 
Prisons  ?  Give  particulars  of  imprisonment. 

Do  you  positively  know  of  any  of  your  Comrades 
dying?  If  yes,  give  name,  date  and  place. 

When  and  where  were  you  paroled  and  exchanged  ? 

What  did  you  do  after  you  were  paroled  until  you 
were  mustered  out  ? 

Were  you  promoted  while  in  the  army  ?  If  yes,  when 
and  to  what  positions? 

Give  ^Ton-commissioned  and  Commissioned  Appoint 
ments,  with  full  particulars. 

Were  you  on  any  detailed  duty  ?  If  yes,  where,  when, 
and  in  what  position  ? 

Give  residence  and  occupation,  since  your  retirement 
from  the  army. 

TCelate  any  incident  in  the  army  about  yourself,  or  your 
friends,  which  you  think  of  interest. 

Have  you  married  since  your  enlistment?  If  yes, 
when,  and  to  whom  ? 

What  is  your  present  address  ? 

Should  fortune  favor,  I  shall  publish  a  record  of  the 
doings  of  our  Battery.  I  hope  you  will  render  me  this 
assistance. 

Yours,  &c., 


Wherever  in  this  book  a  Personal  Sketch  is  not  fall,  it 
occurred  from  our  being  unable-  to  obtain  information. 


18  PERSONAL    SKETCHES. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  "  Personal  Sketches," 
there  is  no  mention  of  a  large  number  of  reductions  of 
1ST  on-Commissioned  Officers. 

The  Battery  passed  through  several  changes  of  organ 
ization,  and  of  administration.  As  a  rule,  differences  of 
opinions  and  personal  considerations,  influenced  and 
brought  about  these  reductions. 

At  the  time  of  the  Mutiny,  and  at  other  times,  Non- 
Commissioned  Officers  asked  to  be  reduced.  Only  in  two 
or  three  cases  of  reduction,  are  we  aware  that  there  was 
any  reflection  upon  the  soldierly  qualities  of  the  officer 
reduced. 

Space  could  not  be  spared  to  give  a  detailed  history  of 
each  case — allowing  both  sides  of  the  story  to  be  told— 
in  this  book. 

The  writer  trusts  and  believes  that  the  surviving  mem 
bers  of  the  Battery  will  understand  these  remarks ;  and 
that  they  will  consider  these  reasons  ample  for  not  reviv 
ing  questions  of  differences,  by  particularizing  those 
reductions. 

There  were  indeed  lew  left  to  whom  the  Circular  letter 
could  be  addressed,  but  those  who  did  respond  gave  us 
much  valuable  information.  In  many  cases,  friends  and 
relatives  replied.  In  all  cases  where  it  was  possible,  we 
have  given  the  sketch  of  each  member,  as  it  was  fur 
nished  us,  either  by  himself  or  his  friends.  In  some 
instances,  however,  the  writer  knew  more  of  the  expe 
riences  of  his  comrades  than  any  other  person;  and  in 
such  cases  he  has  himself  taken  the  liberty  to  sketch  the 
character  and  experiences  of  his  comrades. 


PERSONAL    SKETCHES.  19 

He  would  here  take  the  opportunity  of  thanking  the 
following  persons  for  their  aid,  and  for  the  information 
which  they  so  pleasantly  and  cheerfully  furnished. 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Cleveland,  Lucius  S.  Newcomb, 

Mrs    A.  D.  Keeney,  Wm.  R.  Murray, 

Miss  Mary  Smith,  H.  C.  Burd, 

Jay  E.  Lee,  George  Birdsall, 

George  S.  Hastings,  Andrew  Ferguson, 

C.  A.  Clark,  H.  P.  Lloyd, 

C.  H.  Dolbeer,  Charles  Homan, 

Wm.  S.  Camp,  R.  D.  Higgins. 

There  were  many  others  who  encouraged  him  by  writ 
ing  agreeable  responses ;  and  they  too  will  please  accept 
his  heartiest  thanks. 

The  Personal  Sketches  are  placed  in  the  same  order  as 
the  Company  Eoll. 


PERSONAL   SKETCHES. 


LEE,  JAY  E.,  Captain.— In  the  fall  of  1861,  Mr.  Lee,  a 
young  and  successful  lawyer  of  Perry,  convinced  that 
more  men  were  needed  in  our  army,  determined  to  offer 
his  services  to  the  Government.  Upon  investigating  the 
tactics  of  the  different  branches  of  the  service,  he  select 
ed  the  artillery,  as  that  most  needed  and  most  desirable. 
Together  with  Mr.  Wyckoff,  he  set  about  interesting  the 
young  men  of  the  place,  in  organizing  a  company  which 
should  represent  that  town  and  vicinity  in  the  great  con 
flict. 

About  fifty  men  signed  a  declaration  to  join  the  com 
pany,  but  from  some  cause,  when  they  were  called  upon 
to  proceed  to  Buffalo  and  muster  in,  only  about  twenty 
responded.  These  consolidated  with  other  squads  from 
different  towns,  and  formed  a  company,  of  which  Mr. 
Lee  was  elected  captain.  He  was  mustered  into  the  ser 
vice  October  26th,  1861,  and  commissioned  as  captain  in 
the  "Kocket  Battalion,"  December  9th,  1861.  Soon 
after  he  was  commissioned,  the  people  of  Perry,  appre 
ciating  his  efforts  and  .ability,  presented  him  with  a 
purse,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  the  "Wyoming 
Times"  of  February  7th,  1862,  as  follows  ; 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  21 

"  SOMETHING  MORE  THAN  A  COMPLIMENT. — The  following  corres 
pondence  explains  itself,  but  we  cannot  refrain  from  accompanying  it 
with  the  expression  of  our  gratification,  in  view  of  the  handsome  and 
spirited  manner  in  which  the  thing  was  done — quite  characteristic  of 
our  community,  by  the  by — and  the  peculiar  propriety  of  doing  it. 
Captain  Lee  moved  in  the  matter  of  organizing  a  company  when  our 
national  affairs  were  in  their  most  gloomy  condition ;  greatly  influ 
enced,  as  we  happen  to  know,  by  the  consideration  that  his  country 
needed  his  services.  *  *  *  * 

"  '  PERRY,  January  29, 1862. 
"  '  Capt.  J.  E.  LEE  : 

"  '  Sir: — In  behalf  of  a  large  number  of  your  fellow-citizens,  resi 
dents  of  Perry  and  vicinity  (a  list  of  whom  I  enclose),  I  have  the  honor 
of  presenting  to  you  the  enclosed  sum  of  sixty-five  dollars,  contributed 
by  them  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  side  arms  (sword  and  pistols), 
for  your  use  in  the  service  of  your  country,  to  which  you  have  so  gen 
erously  and  at  so  great  a  sacrifice  devoted  yourself. 

" '  Please  accept  it,  to  quote  the  language  of  the  subscription,  "  as 
an  expression  of  their  appreciation  of  your  patriotic  and  successful 
efforts  in  raising  your  company,  and  of  your  admirable  fitness  to  com 
mand  it."  Trusting  that  the  efforts  of  the  Government  and  the  people 
to  put  down  this  unrighteous  rebellion  may  speedily  be  crowned  with 
success,  and  that  you  soon  may  be  restored  to  your  family  and  friends, 
"  '  I  am,  yours  respectfully, 

'"H.  N.  PAGE.' 


"  '  PERRY,  February  1,  1862. 
"  '  H.  N.  PAGE,  Esq. : 

"  '  Dear  Sir: — Your  communication,  enclosing  sixty-five  dollars  for 
the  purchase  of  side  arms  for  my  use,  with  a  list  of  the  donors,  is  just 
received.  Permit  me,  through  you,  to  thank  my  friends  for  this  hand 
some  gift,  and  the  flattering  words  with  which  they  grace  their 
generosity.  *  *  *  * 

" '  With  you,  I   earnestly  hope   this   unrighteous   rebellion  may 

*    speedily  be  crushed,  and  that  I,  with  others,  who  are  self-banished 

from  our  pleasant  homes,  may  soon  be  permitted  to  return  to  your 


22  RECORDS   OF   TIIK 

midst ;  and,  moreover,  when  I  do  return,  that  no  act  of  mine  while 
wearing  these  arms,  shall  cause  me  to  avoid  the  greeting  of  any  of 
whose  generosity  and  patriotism  they  are  the  indices. 
"  '  With  genuine  gratitude,  I  am, 

"  '  Very  truly  and  respectfully, 

"  '  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  '  J.  E.  LEE.'  " 

Capt.  Lee  was  in  command  of  the  section  that  parti 
cipated  in  the  battles  of  Kinston,  Goldsboro'  and 
Whitehall.  He  was  also  in  command  of  the  Battery  at 
the  second  attack  on  New  Berne,  !N".  C. 

While  in  the  service,  he  was  attacked  with  a  severe 
hemorrhage  of  the  lungs,  the  result  of  exposure  and  over 
exertion,  which  unfortunate  event  compelled  him  to  re 
sign  his  commission,  while  stationed  at  Plymouth,  N.  C., 
June  13,  1863.  The  following  letter  was  read  to  the 
Battery,  after  his  resignation  had  been  accepted: 

"  NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  June  13,  1863. 
"  To  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  N.  Y.  BATTERY  : 

"  I  can  no  longer  address  you  as  "my  men,"  or  "fellow  soldiers," 
I) ut  I  can  say  what  is  as  good  or  better,  my  friends,  you  have  just 
heard  the  order  which  discharges  me  from  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  sunders  my  connection  with  the  dear  old  Twenty-fourth. 
I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  cannot  see  you  all  again,  and  say  good  bye 
with  my  own  voice,  and  give  each  a  parting  grasp  of  the  hand.  When 
I  left  you  last  Thursday,  I  had  already  prepared  my  resignation,  and 
did  not  expect  to  return,  and  it  made  me  feel  very  badly  to  come  away 
without  saying  good  bye ;  but  I  could  not ;  my  resignation  had  not 
been  acted  upon,  and  we  have  all  learned  that  nothing  is  certain  in 
military  matters  but  uncertainty.  I  had  no  right  to  take  it  for  granted 
that  it  would  be  accepted,  so  I  was  obliged  to  leave  in  silence,  as  I  did. 
My  motives  and  actions  cannot  be  misconstrued,  however,  I  trust  no 
one  of  you  will  be  so  ungenerous  as  to  think  I  desired  to  steal  away 
from  you. 

"  One  of  my  greatest  regrets  at  leaving  the  service  is,  that  I  cannot 


TWENTY-FOURTit    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  23 

in  person  take  my  leave  of  you,  and  assure  each  one  of  my  high  re 
gard  and  lasting  attachment.  As  it  is,  let  me  say  that  there  is  not  a 
man  in  the  Battery  who  has  not  a  firm  hold  on  my  memory  and  heart. 
I  shall  constantly  carry  with  me  the  deepest  interest  and  anxiety  for 
the  Battery,  and  every  individual  member  of  it ;  and  not  only  while 
you  are  in  the  service,  but  as  long  as  you  or  I  shall  live.  If  length  of 
years  is  given  me  or  you,  I  know  that  in  after  life  when  we  meet, 
warm  and  earnest  will  be  our  words  of  greeting,  and  a  thrill  of  pleas 
ure  will  follow  the  hearty  grasp  of  our  hands.  I  have  not  only  deep 
personal  attachment  for  all  of  you,  but  I  am  proud  of  you  as  an  organ 
ization.  If  I  was  to  remain  in  the  service  I  should  want  no  other 
command.  Nothing  would  tempt  me  from  you.  ^  My  ambition  has 
not  been  for  promotion,  but  to  make  you  thorough  or  efficient  soldiers. 
In  that  I  trust  I  have  succeeded.  I  sincerely  believe  that  in  all  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  there  cannot  be  found  an  organization 
better  fitted  to  do  thorough  and  earnest  work  for  its  country,  than  the 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery.  I  am  not  so  vain,  however,  as  to 
take  to  myself  all  the  credit  for  this ;  I  have  had  able  and  willing 
assistance  in  my  officers,  from  highest  to  lowest,  and  above  all,  I  have 
•  had  intelligent,  honorable,  manly  men  to  govern  and  instruct.  No 
other  organization  of  like  size  in  the  army  can  boast  a  tithe  of  the 
intelligence,  education,  and  high-toned  manliness  and  moral  charac 
ter  this  company  contains.  Under  such  circumstances  I  had  shown 
myself  but  poorly  fitted  for  the  position  I  have  had,  if  now,  I  had  not 
a  battery  to  be  proud  of.  I  have  been  proud  of  my  command,  and 
shall  let  no  opportunity  go  unimproved  of  boasting  of  it  when  I  am 
home  among  you  and  my  friends. 

"  This,  at  least  ought  to  be  granted  me,  as  I  have  no  deeds  of  valor, 
&c.,  to  boast  of.  Of  my  reasons  for  resigning  my  position  and  leaving 
you,  there  can  scarcely  be  any  necessity  of  speaking.  I  presume  it 
was  not  unlooked  for  by  any  one,  certainly  not  by  those  who  were 
familiar  with  my  physical  condition.  For  more  than  a  year  I  Have 
been  unfit  for  military  service,  and  I  considered  it  my  duty  to  resign 
a  position  whose  duties  I  could  not  perform.  The  officers  who  remain 
are  tried  and  true.  You  know  them  well,  and,  I  believe,  have  full 
confidence  in  them.  Upon  you,  I  know  they  rely. 

"  Let  me  now  say  a  final  good  bye,  and  God  bless  and  preserve  you. 
"  Your  friend  and  former  Captain, 

"J.  E.  LEE." 


24  RKCOROS    OF   THE 

The  Battery  went  through  many  changes,  and  Capt. 
Lee  was  not  always  popular.  In  Washington,  D.  C., 
March,  1862,  he  was  tried  before  court  martial,  on  several 
charges,  but  was  honorably  acquitted.  Still,  we  think 
that  even  those  who  did  not  accord  with  his  views  and 
decisions,  would  admit  that  he  was  an  able  and  efficient 
officer;  and  at  the  time  he  resigned,  the  Battery  was 
one  of  the  finest  appearing  and  best  drilled  batteries  in 
that  department.  He  was  brevetted  major  and  lieuten 
ant  colonel  of  United  States  Volunteers,  for  "  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct,"  and  also  received  a  commis 
sion  as  brevet  lieutenant  colonel  of  New  York  Volun 
teers.  Soon  after  his  discharge  from  service  he  visited 
the  Western  Territories,  California  and  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  for  the  purpose  of  benefitting  his  health.  In 
January,  1866,  he  received  an  appointment  on  the  staff' 
of  Governor  Fenton,  with  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel, 
and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  military  agent  for  the  State 
of  ~New  York,  at  Washington. 

He  is  at  present  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  he  is 
practicing  law. 

CADY,  L.  A.,  Captain. — Enlisted  in  Hamlin.  Monroe 
Co.,  K.  Y.,  in  October,  1861,  and  upon  the  organization 
of  the  Battery,  was  mustered  in  as  its  second  lieutenant. 
He  remained  in  active  service  until  December,  1864,  rising 
to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  participated  in  every  battle 
in  which  the  Battery  was  engaged,  evincing  the  qualities 
of  the  good  soldier.  In  entering  the  army  he  was  actu 
ated  by  a  noble  patriotism  that  led  him  to  make  great 
personal  and  domestic  sacrifices,  with  cheerful  alacrity, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  25 

thoroughly  comprehending  the  mighty  issues  of  the  long 
struggle  ;  he  always  had  a  stanch  faith  in  the  integrity 
of  the  cause,  and  an  .unwavering  confidence  in  its  ulti 
mate  triumph. 

He  was  a  faithful  and  diligent  officer,  with  a  quick 
appreciation  of  the  fidelity  of  the  humblest  member  of 
the  Battery  ;  arid  a  just  pride  in  the  intelligence,  good 
discipline  and  splendid  appearance  of  his  command.  He 
was  captured  in  the  battle  of  Plymouth,  and  suffered 
the  rigors  of  prison  life,  until  early  in  October,  1864. 
when  he  escaped,  while  en  route  from  Charleston  to  Co 
lumbia,  S.  C. 

After  a  weary  experience  in  the  swamps,  forests  and 
mountains  of  the  South,  he  reached  the  Union  lines  at 
Strawberry  Plains,  in  East  Tennessee.  His  health  was 
considerably  impaired  by  the  hardships  and  exposure  he 
had  undergone;  and  there  being  but  a  fragment  of  the 
Battery  for  duty,  he  was  induced  to  resign  his  com 
mission. 

His  health  continued  to  fail,  and  though  his  strong 
love  of  an  active  and  useful  life,  and  the  devotion  of  an 
affectionate  wife  and  children,  furnished  the  most  power 
ful  motives  for  living,  his  hitherto  tireless  energies  were 
destined  to  succumb  to  the  fatal  force  of  disease.  He 
died  on  the  8th  day  of  November,  1865,  at  Waterford,- 
Orleans  Co.,  X.  Y. 

HASTINGS,  GEORGE  S.,  First  Lieut. — In  the  autumn  of 
1861,  he  removed  from  Oswego  to  Perry, N.  Y.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  until  August,  1862.  In 
common  with  thousands  of  patriotic  young  men,  he  then 


RECORDS  OF  THE 

believed  that  duty  called  him  to  his  country's  service. 
He  accordingly  procured  authority  to  recruit  for  the 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery,  then  known  as  Bat 
tery  "  B,"  of  the  "  Socket  Battalion."  Among  the 
pioneer  recruits  who  gave  him  cheerful  and  patriotic  co 
operation,  were  Mason  C.  Smith,  Phares  Shirley,  Oliver 
Williams,  William  S.  Camp,  Charles  Dolbeer,  and 
J.  W.  Merrill. 

The  work  of  enlistment  was  sharp,  short  and  decisive  ; 
commencing  in  earnest  on  the  25th  of  August,  and 
receiving  a  strong  impetus  at  a  public  meeting  held  in 
Perry,  on  the  evening  of  the  following  day.  In  the 
same  week  sixty-four  young  men  had  enlisted  ;  sixty  of 
whom  were  accepted  and  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  on 
August  30,  1861.  Shortly  afterwards,  the  detachment, 
numbering  about  seventy,  joined  the  battery,  in  North 
Carolina.  Returning  to  Perry  to  make  necessary  and  final 
arrangements  to  follow  his  comrades,  after  a  brief  interval, 
he  joined  the  command  at  Newport  barracks.  In  March, 
1863,  the  Battery  was  ordered  to  Plymouth,  then  an 
insignificant  station  on  the  Roanoke.  It  afterwards 
became  one  of  an  important  line  of  fortified  posts  on  the 
coast  region  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  the  head-quar 
ters  of  the  sub-district  of  the  Albemarle.  While  there, 
Lieutenant  Hastings  was  detailed  as  Judge- Advocate  of 
the  sub-district,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the 
battle  of  Plymouth.  Having  been  taken  prisoner,  he 
was  sent  to  Macon,  Ga.,  remaining  there  until  August, 
1864.  During  this  time  he  made  two  attempts  to  escape, 
both  of  which  were  defeated  at  the  point  where  success 
seemed  assured.  In  August,  while  on  the  route  from 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  27 

Macon  to  Charleston,  he  escaped  from  the  cars  ;  and  after 
a  wearisome,  painful  and  solitary  tramp  of  four  nights, 
was  pursued  by  dogs  and  recaptured.  His  citizen 
captors  were  disposed  to  regard  him  as  a  spy,  and  for  a 
time  he  had  an  unpleasant  foretaste  of  the  pains  and 
penalties  visited  upon  curious  intruders. 

The  Commanding  General  of  the  Department  of 
Georgia  was  pleased  to  restore  him  to  the  rigors,  face 
tiously  styled,  "  The  rights  of  a  prisoner  of  war."  A 
month  in  sultry  Savannah  ;  a  fortnight  in  the  filthy  jail 
yard  of  Charleston,  with  pestilential  odors  below,  and 
screaming  shells  above ;  and  live  days  in  the  prison 
camp  near  Columbia,  S.  C.,  rounded  the  period  of  his 
probation  as  the  unwilling  partaker  of  "  Southern  Hos 
pitality."  Then  a  night  escape  through  the  cordon  of 
sentinels  who  guarded  the  camp  ;  a  long  pilgrimage 
through  the  pines  of  the  Palmetto  State,  and  over  the 
rugged  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee ;  and 
the  dream  of  liberty  was  realized  under  the  flag  whose 
folds  were  so  dear  to  the  sturdy  loyalists  of  East  Ten 
nessee.  Shortly  afterwards  he  received  an  appointment 
upon  the  staff  of  Governor  Fenton,  and  subsequently 
became  his  private  secretary,  in  which  capacity  he  re 
mained  in  Albany,  until  September,  1S68.  He  then 
removed  to  New  York,  and  held  the  position  of  Assistant 
Attorney  of  the  Board  of  Excise. 

He  is  now  practicing  his  profession  at  -t  and  6  Pine 
Street,  New  York. 

GRAHAM,  GEORGE  AY.— Was  commissioned  as  a  second 
lieutenant  in  the  "  TCocket  Battalion,  "  December  9th, 


RECORDS   OF   THE 

1861.  Transferred  to  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York 
Battery,  February  llth,  1803.  Transferred  to  the 
Third  New  York  Cavalry,  December  24th,  1803.  From 
thence  transferred  to  the  First  North  Carolina  Cavalry. 
He  was  a  dashing  and  reckless  officer.  Several  of  his 
reported  exploits  exhibited  both  coolness  and  audacity. 
At  the  reorganization  of  the  army  he  was  appointed 
first  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Army  ;  has  since 
been  promoted  to  captain  of  the  Tenth  Cavalry, 
and  is  now  with  his  regiment,  somewhere  on  the 
borders. 

1.  ADAMS,  ABNER.— Enlisted  at  Albany,  September 
30th,  1802,  and  mustered  in  there,  October  1st,  1802. 
He  was  discharged  at  New  Berne,  February  20th,  1803, 
and  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  in  the  First  North 
Carolina  Union  Volunteers.  Held  the  position  of 
Military  Secretary  to  the  Military  Governor  of  De 
partment  of  North  Carolina,  (Governor  Stanly),  and 
resigned  June  10th,  1803,  to  leave  the  army.  In 
September,  1804,  he  re-entered  the  army,  as  private,  in 
the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery ;  was  on  detached 
service,  as  clerk  in  Provost  Marshal's  office  of  Twenty- 
fourth  District,  New  York,  and  mustered  out  in  June, 
1805. 

Married  Miss  M.  E.  French,  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y., 
21st  October,  1803,  and  has  one  child,  named  "  Robert 
Turner  Adams,"  to  perpetuate  the  name  of  a  member  of 
the  Battery,  who  was  killed  in  North  Carolina,  in  the 
fall  of  1802. 

His  present  address  is  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  29 

2.  AINSWORTH,  RUFUS  C.,  Clarkson,  N.  Y. — Lieut.  W. 
S.  Camp,  says : 

"  He  was  enlisted  at  Hamlin,  IS".  Y.,  by  J.  E.  Lee, 
October  21st,  1861,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  at  Buffalo,  1ST.  Y.,  by  Lieut.  Cutting,  on 
the  26th  October,  1861,  to  serve  three  years  unless  sooner 
discharged.  November  1st,  1862,  he  was  "promoted  to 
first  duty  sergeant  by  i  E.  Lee,  Captain  Commanding. 
About  September  or  October,  1863,  he  received  a  furlough 
of  thirty  days  to  go  to  New  York,  and  did  not  return 
until  he  was  arrested  as  a  deserter,  and  returned  to  the 
command  as  such  in  February  or  March,  1864-.  On  ac 
count  of  his  desertion  he  was  reduced  to  the  ranks  by 
Capt.  L.  A.  Cady,  January  20th,  1864.  In  April,  just 
before  the  battle  of  Plymouth, 'he  was  sent,  under  guard, 
to  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  for  trial  by  general  court  martial. 
The  company  all  being  captured  (April  20th,)  at  Ply 
mouth,  before  his  trial,  there  remained  no  evidence  of 
his  guilt,  and  no  one  to  appear  against  him.  In  this 
confinement  he  remained  until,  through  the  influence  of 
Corporal  Stoddard,  myself,  and  the  Christian  Commission, 
his  case  was  brought  before  the  authorities,  and  he  was 
released  and  returned  to  the  company,  then  under  com 
mand  of  Capt.  E.  De  Meulen,  at  Roanoke  Island, 
August  20th,  1864.  During  his  confinement  at  New 
Berne,  he  was  put  in  a  gang  of  men,  and  worked  in  the 
Sanitary  Gardens,  so  that  he  did  not  have  a  severe  time. 

"  In  accordance  with  Special  Order  No.  1,  Head- 
Quarters  Twenty-Fourth  Independent  Battery,  Roanoke 
Island,  August  20th,  1864,  he  was  again  promoted  to 
sergeant,  by  Capt,  E.  De  Meulen,  commanding  detach- 


30  RECORDS    OF    THE 

ment,  and  held  this  position  until  November  7th,  1864, 
when,  by  •reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  New  Berne,  IS".  C. 
"  He  is  now  farming  in  Wisconsin." 

3.  AINSWORTH,  WM.,  Clarkson,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  ser 
vice,   October  8th,  1861.     Ke-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  in 
January,  1864,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth, 
N.  C.     He  was  a  tall,  strong,  good-natured  fellow,  and 
made  a  capital  No.  1  at  the  piece.     Ferguson  writes  that 
Ainsworth  died  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 

4.  ALBURTY,    WILLIAM,    Perry. — Joined   for   service, 
October  22d,  1861.     He  was  but  eighteen  years  of  age 
on  the  muster  roll,  and  it  is   our  opinion   that  he  was 
nearer  sixteen  than  eighteen  when  mustered  in  at  Buffalo. 

He  held  the  position  of  guidon  in  the  Battery,  and 
in  drill,  march  or  action,  was  prompt,  ready  and  efficient. 
We  quote  the  following  from  correspondence  to  the 
"  Wyoming  Times,"  August  15th,  1862  : 

"  NEWPORT  BARRACKS,  July  31st,  1862. 

"  Last  Friday  we  received  orders  to  prepare  for  a  inarch.  We 
marched  all  day  Saturday,  and  part  of  the  night.  Sunday  morning 
we  started  again,  marching  about  fifteen  miles,  when  we  stopped  to 
feed  the  teams  and  eat  our  dinner.  When  we  had  been  there  about 
an  hour  and  a  half,  we  heard  some  guns  fired  and  orders  came  to 
hitch  up.  This  we  did  as  soon  as  possible,  and  had  hardly  finished 
when  a  body  of  cavalry,  three  hundred  strong,  came  charging  right 
upon  us.  We  wheeled  our  guns  into  position,  and  commenced  firing. 
The  fight  lasted  about  an  hour.  Our  force  consisted  of  six  companies 
of  infantry,  three  companies  of  cavalry,  and  one  section  of  our  Battery. 
There  were  three  or  four  of  the  infantry  wounded  ;  and  two  or  three 
of  the  cavalry.  There  was  no  one  hurt  in  our  Company.  Col.  Heck- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTKRY.  31 

man  said,  we  worked  our  guns  as  well  as  any  battery  he  ever  saw. 
******  William  acted  bravely.  He  rode  up  to  where  the 
Colonel  was,  and  that  was  when  the  rebels  were  firing,  and  the 
bullets  went  by  like  hailstones.  He  had  his  flag  in  one  hand  and  his 
revolver  in  the  other.  The  Colonel  told  him  to  go  back  with  his  flag 
and  horse  and  then  come  and  if  he  got  a  shot  to  fire.  The  Colonel 
said  he  had  good  blood." 

He  re-enlisted  in  January,  1864;  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth,  being  one  of  the  furloughed  veterans  who  re 
turned  just  in  time  to  be  captured.  He  died  at  Ander- 
sonville,  Ga.,  August  23d,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  6,698. 

5.  ALBUKTY   FRANCIS   M.,    Perry. — Joined    for   duty 
October  21st,  1861.     He  writes  : 

"  I  enlisted  in  Perry,  about  the  middle  of  September, 
1861,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  1st,  1861. 
I  was  mustered  out  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  January  1st, 

1864.  Re-enlisted  the  same  day  as  veteran,  was  absent 
at   the  battle  of  Plymouth,  being  delayed  from  return 
ing  with  the  other  veterans  by  sickness,  was  transferred 
to"  Third   New  York  Artillery,  May    25th,   1865,    was 
mustered  out  lastly  at  Syracuse,  on   the  7th  of  July, 

1865.  I  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  corporal,  the  14th 
of  April,  1863 ;  was  in  the  skirmish  at  the  White  Oak 
River ;  also  in   one  at  Kinston,  and  another  at  Golds- 
boro'.    I  am  at  present  working  at   my  trade,  printing, 
in  the  "  Silver  Lake  Sun  "  office,  in  Perry." 

6.  ALLEN  Z. — Enlisted  at  Whitehall,   and  mustered 
in   September,  1861.      Re-enlisted  January   1st,   1864. 


32  RECORDS    OF    THE 

Was  married  while  on  the  furlough  which  had  been 
granted  lym  as  a  veteran.  Zeph's  white  team,  and  his 
management  of  them  on  the  lead,  was  one  of  the  notice 
able  things  of  the  Battery,  during  its  days  of  drill.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  Comrades  will  remem 
ber  him  as  quite  small,  but  hardy  and  tough.  Prison 
life  did  not  affect  him  to  the  extent  that  it  did  many  of 
the  larger  and  seemingly  stronger  men.  He  was  paroled 
and  exchanged  in  December,  1864 ;  joined  his  company 
at  Ooanjock  Bridge,  1ST.  C.,  April  23d,  1865.  "Was  in 
good  health,  fat  and  fair,  having  been  gone  from  the 
company  one  year  and  three  days.  Transferred  to  Third 
Xew  York  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865  ;  was  mustered  out 
in  June,  1865. 

His  present  address  is  Whitehall,  N".  Y. 

7.  ANDKUS,  LEMUEL,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  October 
25th,  1861.     While  the  Eocket  Battalion  was  stationed 
at  Washington,  he  was  seized  by  that  terrible  pestilence, 
the  small  pox,  and  died  in  the  hospital,  the  9th  of  March, 
1862.     We  had  not  a  personal  acquaintance  with  him, 
but  we  always  heard  him  spoken  of  by  his  comrades  as 
one  who  highly  deserved  their  friendship  and  respect. 

8.  ANDREWS,  MARK. — Enlisted  at  Perry,  N.  Y.,  Oct. 
21st,   1861.     Mustered  in  at  Albany,   Oct.  26th,  1861. 
He  was  soon  after  promoted  to  position  of  sergeant,  and 
afterwards  to   orderly  sergeant.     Through  some  differ 
ences  and  misunderstandings  with  the    officers  of  the 
company,  he  was  reduced  to  the  ranks. 

In   January,  1863,  he   was  mustered   out   to   receive 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  33 

promotion  to  first  lieutenant  in  Tenth  New  York 
Artillery ;  in  which  he  served  until  it  was  trans 
ferred  to  Heavy  Artillery.  He  then  resigned  and  ac 
cepted  a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  Twentieth 
New  York  Battery.  On  July  20th,  1864,  he  resigned  this 
last  commission,  and  soon  after  received  an  appointment 
in  the  Treasury  Department  at  Washington.  He  must 
have  proved  a  valuable  man  in  the  position  he  occupies, 
since  he  seems  to  hold  it,  notwithstanding  change  of 
Administration  and  of  the  Cabinet. 

His  present  address  is  "  Secretary's  Office,"  Treasury, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Mark  Andrews,  Jurir's,  address  is  the  same  as  his 
father's. 

9.  ARMSTRONG,  WILLIAM. — Joined  for  service  October 
15th,  1861.     Re-enlisted  as   a  veteran,  January,   1864. 
Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Anderson- 
ville,  October  26th,  1864,  of  scorbutis. 

10.  ARMSTRONG,  J.  EL,  Mount  Morris. — Mustered  in, 
August  30th,  1862.     Was  discharged  from  the  service, 
at  hospital,  for  inability,  some  time  in  1863. 

11.  ATWOOD,  GEORGE  S.,  Perry. — Was  mustered  in  at 
Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.     He  died  in  the  Anderson- 
ville  Prison  Stockade,  August  28th,   1864,    of  chronic 
diarrhoea.      The  number  of  his  grave  in  the  cemetery  is 
7,207.    The  writer  has  always   imagined   that    George 
had  a  feeling  or  presentiment  that  he  would  not  return 
home.     While  we  were  at  the  Park  Barracks,  in  New 

3 


34  RECORDS    OF    THE 

York,  lie  met  his  father.  In  a  letter  from  Will  Hosford 
to  a  friend  I  find  the  following  statement  of  the 
affair : 

"  The  first  day  that  we  were  here  some  of  the  boys 
saw  George  At  wood's  father,  and  told  him  George  was 
here.  They  called  George,  and,  without  saluting  him, 
the  father  began  to  abuse  him  for  enlisting,  told  him  he 
could  not  go,  and  said  he  should  take  measures  to  get 
him  out.  He  finally  came  in  and  saw  the  lieutenant. 
But  both  Hastings  and  George  remained  firm.  He  went 
to  the  Mayor's  office  to  get  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  but 
did  not  succeed.  He  told  some  of  the  boys  that  lie 
hoped  George  would  be  shot,  and  would  never  return 
alive."  A  short  time  before  the  battle  of  Plymouth, 
George  was  troubled  with  hernia,  and  could  liave  obtained 
his  discharge  from  the  service  on  that  account,  but  when 
advised  so  to  do,  his  idea  of  duty  caused  him  to  spurn 
the  suggestion. 

George  was  a  kind-hearted,  generous  young  man  ;  un 
selfish  and  ambitious  only  to  be  well  read,  and  able  to 
meet  any  argument  in  politics  or  any  of  the  ordinary 
topics  of  the  day.  In  prison  he  maintained  his  character 
of  consideration  and  kindness,  and  died  beloved  by  all 
his  comrades. 

12.  ANSBACHER,  MOSES,  Albion,  X.  Y. — Joined  for 
duty  Nov.  7th,  1861.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the 
new  men  at  Newport  Barracks,  in  1862,  Ansbacher  ob 
tained  his  discharge,  in  order  to  proceed  to  Germany, 
and  take  charge  of  some  estate  to  which  he  had  become 
heir.  We  have  no  further  trace  of  him. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  35 

13.  BAKER,  JOHN,  Covington. — Mustered  in  at  Buffalo, 
August  30th,  1862.  Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth, 
and  died  in  Andersonville  Prison  Stockade,  Sept.  8th, 
JL864:,  of  scorbutis.  The  number  of  his  grave  is  8,215. 
We  do  not  remember  having  seen  him  but  once  after 
reaching  Andersonville,  and  therefore  do  not  know  any 
particulars  of  his  death. 

14-.  BARKER,  G-ITSTAVUS. — Enlisted  at  Clarkson.  Mas 
tered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  21st,  1861.  Ke-enlisted  as 
a  veteran  in  January,  1864. 

Possessing  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  ridiculous,  and 
an  admirable  adaptability  in  originating  and  carrying 
out  schemes  of  fun,  he  often  made  the  camp  merry  with 
some  prank. 

He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  was  exchanged  at 
Annapolis,  and  is  now  living  at  Clarkson  Corners,  X.  Y. 

15.  BARNES,  ROSWELL,  Perry. — Was  mustered  in  at 
Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.  At  the  time  we  shipped  on 
the  steamer  "  Oriole"  from  Xew  York  to  ~New  Berne, 
Barnes  and  McCrink  left  the  steamer  for  a  few  moments 
to  make  some  small  purchases.  During  their  absence 
we  cast  off  from  the  pier,  and  as  they  emerged  from  the 
grocery,  they  spied  us  out  in  the  stream.  They  imme 
diately  jumped  into  a  barge,  and  offered  the  oarsmen 
quite  a  sum  of  money  as  an  incentive  to  overtake  us, 
but  they  failed  in  the  attempt,  and  turned  back  a  good 
deal  alarmed  and  chagrined. 

It  was  afterwards  rumored  in  Perry  that  they  had 
deserted.  We  tincl  in  the  Battery  correspondence  to  the 


36  RECORDS    OF   THE 

"  Wyoming  Times"  of  November  7th,  1862,  the  follow 


ing  comment : 


"  Barnes  and  McCrink  arrived  at  New  Berne  two  days 
before  our  company,  and  going  on  to  camp,  informed  the 
captain  that  we  were  coming.  To  have  any  suspicion  of 
their  loyalty  would  be  treating  them  very  unjustly." 

A  favorite  in  his  detachment,  jovial,  witty  and  shrewd, 
was  "  Uncle  Barney." 

Barnes  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at 
Andersonville,  Sept,  14th,  1864,  of  scorbutis.  The  num 
ber  of  his  grave  is  8,821.  In  a  diary  belonging  to 
Barnes,  and  given  by  his  sister  to  the  writer,  we  find  the 
following  011  the  page  for  Sept.  14th :  "  Barnes  died 
during  last  night.  I  think  he  died  while  sleeping.  I 
slept  at  the  side  of  him,  and  was  surprised  to  find  him 
dead  when  I  awoke  this  morning. — NAPOLEON  B.  NEAL, 
Middletown,  Conn." 

16.  BAKTLEY,  JOHN. — Was  mustered  in  at  Albany  in 
September,  1861. 

His  native  town  was  Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y.  Hartley 
was  quite  a  Tom  Thumb  in  stature,  good-natured  and 
jolly,  and  devoted  to  his  horses.  He  re-enlisted  at 
Plymouth  in  January,  1864,  and,  while  home  on  furlough, 
was  married.  Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and 
died  in  the  prison  at  Florence,  S.  C. 

17.  BARTLETT,    HARTWELL,    Perry.— Mustered    in    at 
Buffalo,    August  30th,    1862.     Was    taken  prisoner   at 
Plymouth,  and  died  at  Andersonville  Hospital  of  scor 
butis,  September  4th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  is  7,877. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  37 

18.  BACHELDER,  B.  FRANK,  Perry. — Was  mustered  in 
at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.     Promoted   to  corporal 
April   14th,  1864.     Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,   and 
died  at  Andersonville,  of  intermittent  fever,  July  16th, 
1864.     The  number  of  his  grave  is  3,447. 

Bachelder  had  suffered  more  or  less  from  fever  and 
ague  while  at  Plymouth,  and  during  his  sickness  at 
Andersonville  was  removed  to  the  hospital  stockade  in 
time  to  have  saved  his  life,  had  we  Jbeen  provided  with 
proper  shelter  and  sufficient  medicine.  He  died  in  a 
congestive  chill.  We  thought  that  he  would  recover, 
since,  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  was  able  to  walk 
about,  and  had  the  appearance  of  being  stronger  than  he 
proved  to  be.  The  loss  of  his  companionship  was  felt  by 
all  of  us  who  were  left.  In  his  camp  life  and  in  prison 
life  his  Christian  character  was  manifest.  He  kept  his 
Testament  with  him  to  his  death,  and  the  writer  often 
found  him  perusing  its  contents  or  conversing  with  his 
tent  mates  upon  the  precious  promises  it  contains.  We 
cannot  doubt  that  he  entered  those  heavenly  realms 
where  suffering  and  sorrow  are  unknown. 

19.  BEERS,  L.  M.,  New  York. — Enlisted  November 
6th,  1861.     He  was  taken  ill  soon  after  the  company 
reached  New  Berne,  and  died  at  the  hospital,  June  14th, 
1862.    He  was  buried  on  the  following  day  in  the  grave 
yard  on  the  east  side  of  New  Berne. 

20.  BI&DSALL,  GEORGE,  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  at 
New   York,   November   10th,    1861.     Mustered   in    at 
Albany,  December,  1861.     He  was  appointed   gunner 


38  KECOKDS    OF    THE 

corporal,  and  in  our  target  practice  proved  himself  to  be 
one  of  the  best  gunners  in  the  Battery.  He  re-enlisted 
at  Plymouth  in  January,  186J-,  and  was  promoted  by 
Capt.  Cady  to  sergeant,  which  he  afterwards  resigned, 
preferring  to  take  charge  of  a  piece  as  gunner.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  While  at  Andersonville 
he  was  detailed  in  the  hospital,  and  acted  as  nurse  for 
the  sick.  He  w~as  exchanged  in  December,  1864,  at  Jack 
sonville.  We  are  indebted  to  him  for  an  account  of  the 
terrible  sufferings  that  our  poor  fellows  were  obliged  to 
undergo  while  an  exchange  was  being  arranged  at  this 
point.  He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  New  York 
City,  May,  1865.  He  then  returned  to  Tarrytown,  and 
settled  there  in  mercantile  business.  May  16th,  1867, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Yan  Tassel.  Is  now  with 
the  firm  of  T.  &  G.  Birdsall,  Tarrytown,  1ST.  Y. 

At  the  time  of  his  exchange  he  was  sent,  with  others, 
.from  Andersonville,  by  railroad,  to  Albany,  Ga.  ;  from 
thence  they  were  marched  to  Thomasville,  a  distance  of 
fifty-five  miles,  in  three  days.  After  some  parley  and 
delay,  they  were  counter-marched  this  entire  distance. 
Again  they  were  marched  to  Thomasville,  thence  to 
Baldwin,  to  what  was  termed  "  Halfway  House ;"  and 
from  there  they  were  sent  into  our  lines  at  Jacksonville. 
The  torture  and  cruelty  to  which  these  poor  famished 
and  weakened  men  were  subjected,  by  these  unnecessary 
and  forced  marches,  through  heavy  sands  and  fields  filled 
with  the  prickly  lollipot,  tells  an  additional  tale  of  the 
horrible  inventions  of  their  tormentors.  • 

21.  BILLINGHAM,  IRA,  Broad  Albin,  Fulton  Co.,  New 


TWENTY-FOtTRTH    NE^V    YORK   BATTERY.  39 

York. — Mustered  in  at  Albany,  November  28th,  1861. 
The  service  proved  too  hard  for  his  constitution,  and  he 
was  finally  discharged,  at  New  Berne  Hospital,  for  ina 
bility.  He  has  since  died  at  Broad  Albin. 

22.  BLOOD,  WILLIAM,  Brook's  Grove. — Mustered  in  at 
Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.     He  was  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  a  soldier  which  the  Battery  could  boast  of. 
He  was  willing,  and  no  coward.     Was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth.    The  writer  saw  him  but  few  times  at  Ander- 
sonville.     He  was  reported  to  have   died  at  Florence, 
S.  C. 

23.  BLAKE,  WILLIARD    D.,  Gainsville. — Mustered   in 
March  2d,  1864.     He  was  one  of  the  recruits  who  reached 
Plymouth  but  a  short  time  before  it  was  attacked  ;   our 
acquaintance  with  him,  therefore,  was  a  brief  one.     He 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.     He  was  sent  from  the 
Andersonville  Stockade  to  the    hospital,  having  had  a 
severe  "sunstroke." 

A  peculiar  phase  of  his  sickness  was  his  craving  for 
fat.  He  would  exchange  anything  for  a  piece  of  fat  ba 
con.  He  was  as  well  cared  for  as  possibly  could  be,  and 
his  physical  appearance  was  indicative  of  pretty  good 
health.  But  he  suddenly  began  to  fail,  and  on  the  9th 
of  July,  1864,  he  died.  The  number  of  his  grave  is 
3,231. 

24.  BOIES,  E.,  Moscow. — Was  mustered  in  at  Buffalo, 
August  30th,  1862.    After  his  arrival  at  New  Berne  he  was 
troubled  with  heart  disease,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital. 


4:0  RECORDlf   OF    THE 

He  was  there  discharged  for  inability.     We  can  find  no 
further  trace  of  him. 

25.  BROOKS,  JOHN,  Moscow. — Was  mustered  in  at  Buf 
falo,  August  30th,  1862.     Brooks  was  a  quiet,  faithful 
soldier,  and  did  his  duty  without  a  murmur.     We  can 
find  little  trace  of  him  after  he  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth.     He  was  at  Anderson ville,  and  stood  the  ex 
posure  and  suffering  at  that  prison  better  than  the  aver 
age.     Ferguson  reports  that  he  finally  died  at  Florence, 
S.  C.     Ferrin  says  that  he  died  in   October,  1864,  at 
Florence,  S.  C. 

26.  BRAYTON,  RUFUS,  Perry. — Mustered  in  at  Buffalo, 
August  30th,  1862.     Bray  ton  was  the  tallest  and  largest 
man  on  the  muster  roll,  and  when  enlisted,  was  expected 
to    endure    more    than    any    other    recruit.      He    was 
known  by  his  comrades  as  "Our  Infant ;"   but  from  the 
time  we  left  New  York  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  he 
was  afflicted  with  one  malady  or  another,  until  he  was  so 
changed  in  appearance  that  he  was  hardly  recognizable. 

Tie  died  April  14th,  1863,  at  Plymouth,  K  C. 

In  a  private  letter  written  by  A.  Lent,  we  find  the  fol 
lowing  particulars  :  "  Bray  ton  had  been  but  a  short  time 
with  us,  he  was  discharged  from  hospital  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  ordered  to  report  at  camp  for  duty,  and 
while  he  was  in  camp  at  New  Berne  he  did  light  duty, 
and  appeared  to  be  gaining  strength. 

"  When  the  second  section  was  ordered  here,  he  came 
up  with  the  boys,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  took 
cold,  and  had  another  touch  of  diarrhoea,  and  was  sent 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  41 

to  the  hospital.  I  went  to  see  him  at  the  hospital,  and 
he  told  me  he  had  the  billions  fever.  I  did  not  see  the  sur 
geon  then,  but  he  told  me  a  few  days  afterwards  that 
Bray  ton  was  better.  About  11  o'clock  A.  M.,  April 
14th,  word  was  sent  up  that  he  was  dead.  I  learned 
that  he  died  of  pneumonia,  and  very  suddenly." 

It  is  rather  singular  that  Lent  died  of  pneumonia  at 
Anderson ville,  a  little  over  a  year  from  the  time  of  writ 
ing  this  letter. 

27.  BROWN,  GEORGE.— Enlisted  October  18,  1864,  at 
Rochester,  for  three  years.     Joined  at  Roanoke  Island, 
December  16th,  1864.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery. 

28.  BULLOCK,  ROBERT. — Enlisted  at  Hamlin,  October 
21st,  1861 ;  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
by  Lieut.  Cutting,  October  26th,  1861,  at  Buffalo.     Was 
mustered  out  at  Rochester,  K  Y.,  July  13th,  1865,  and 
did  not  re-enlist.    Was  a  prisoner  at  Anderson  ville,  Ga., 
also  at  Charleston  and  Florence,  S.  C.     He  was  released 
at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  the  10th  December,  1864,  but 
not  paroled  at  the  time.     When  at  Albany,  IN".  Y.,  he 
was  promoted  to  sergeant.     Has  occupied  himself  with 
farming,  but  during  the  past  two  years  has  been  unable  to 
work,  in  consequence  of  his  impaired  constitution — the 
effects  of  his  protracted  imprisonment.    Present  address, 
North  Parma,  Monroe  Co. 

29.  BULKLEY,  W.   E. — Joined   for  duty  and  enrolled 
for   service   at   Castile,   K    Y.,    February    15th,    1864. 


42  RECORDS    OF   THE 

Joined  the  Battery  at  Plymouth  in  time  to  participate  in 
the  battle,  and  be  taken  prisoner,  April  1,  1864.  He 
was  reported  on  the  roll  as  "  Absent  at  College  Green 
Barracks,  as  an  exchanged  prisoner,"  in  October,  1864. 

30.  BULKLEY,   CHAKLES. — Enlisted  at  Castile,  E".  Y., 
February  15th,   1864.     Joined   the   Battery  April  1st, 
1864.     Was  taken  prisoner  April  20th,  1864.    We  can 
not  find  anything  more  about  him,  among  all  the  infor 
mation  in  our  hands. 

31.  BUCK,  ROBERT,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  October 
3d,  1861. 

Buck  was  engineer  of  the  Ambulance.  He  was  dis 
charged  from  service,  at  New  Berne,  in  May,  1862,  for 
physical  inability. 

32.  BUTTON,    JAMES,     Cuylerville. — Mustered    in    at 
Buffalo,    August   30th,   1862.     Was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth  ;  and  died  at  Andersonville  Prison  Stockade, 
of  chronic  diarrhoea.     The  number  of  his  grave  is  5,805. 

33.  BUKD,  HENEY  C.,  Tarrytown.— Joined  for  duty, 
November  6th,  1861. 

Mustered  in  December  1st,  1861.  As  a  bugler,  Burd 
had  few  superiors.  His  prompt  responses  to  the  com 
mands  of  'the  drilling  officer,  were  a  great  assistance 
to  the  excellence  of  the  Battery  movements,  while  on  the 
drill  ground.  His  musical  talents  and  skill  were  often  a 
source  of  pleasure  to  the  members  of  the  company. 

He  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  January,  1864;  and  while 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  43 

on  furlough,  was  taken  sick,  and  by  being  thus  obliged 
to  remain  home,  was  saved  from  the  Plymouth  capture. 
Was  discharged  at  Roanoke  Island,  the  22d  of  Novem 
ber,  1864,  by  special  order,  War  Department,  No.  361. 

At  present  he  is  employed  at  watch  making  ;  and  we 
understand  has  become  quite  a  musical  artist. 

His  address  is  Tarrytown,  1ST.  Y. 

34.  CALHOTJN,  G.  W.,  Albany,  1ST.  Y. — Enlisted  for  one 
year,  September  5,  1864:     Promoted  corporal,  Decem 
ber  10th,  1864. 

transferred  to*  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

35.  CALTEAUX,  PAUL,  Perry. — Mustered    in,    August 
30th,  1862. 

He  was  appointed  an  artificer,  and,  as  a  rule,  was 
about  one  of  the  busiest  men  in  camp,  as  our  horses 
must  be  shod,  and  our  gun  carriages  and  caissons  must 
be  repaired.  His  broken  French-English  jargon  was 
either  a  terror  or  a  sport  to  us ;  much  depending  on  his 
humor,  whenever  we  wanted  work  done.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Plymouth. 

We  lost  track  of  him  at  Andersonville. 

He  was  reported  to  have  gone  to  work  for  the  rebels, 
at  his  trade,  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  Others  affirm  that  he 
died  at  Andersonville. 

36.  CALKINS,  JAMES,   Perry. — Mustered    in,    August 
30th,  1862. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.     While  at 


44  RECORDS    OF   THE 

Andersonville,  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  improved 
in  health  to  that  extent,  that  he  saw  he  should  be  returned 
tB  the  stockade.  He  thereupon,  with  others,  planned  an 
escape.  The  writer  recollects  occupying  several  days  in 
obtaining  and  furnishing  him.  with  extra  provisions  and 
medicines,  that  he  thought  he  would  need  for  his  subsist 
ence,  while  on  his  uncertain  tramp.  Ferrin  joined  with  him 
in  the  attempt  to  escape.  They  succeeded  in  getting  away 
under  cover  of  night ;  but  in  a  day  or  two,  were  brought 
back  into  the  prison  camp.  He  wTas  reported  on  his 
company  roll  as  absent  at  College  Green  barracks. 

Ferguson  says  he  died  at  Florence,  S'  C. 

He  had  little  mercy  for  rebels,  or  neutral  men,  and  in 
our  marches,  interpreted  the  Confiscation  Act  freely. 
Particularly  if  he  thought  there  was  any  honey,  chickens, 
eggs,  ham,  or  other  commodity  that  would  make  a  good 
supper  for  his  camp  mess. 

37.  CAMP,  WM.  S.,  Perry. — He  writes:  Enlisted  in 
Periy,  K  Y.,  August  30th,  1862,  and  same  day  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Buffalo.  November  1st,  was 
promoted  by  Capt.  J.  E.  Lee  to  sergeant.  December  1, 
1863,  was  promoted  to  quartermaster-sergeant  by  Capt. 
Cady.  February  20th,  1864,  with  recommendations 
from  commanding  and  company  officers,  made  applica 
tion  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for  permission  to  appear  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  before  Major-General  Silas  Casey's 
Board  of  Examination,  for  an  examination  as  to  fitness  for 
receiving  a  commission  in  some  light  battery  of  artillery 
formed  of  colored  troops.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1864, 
I  received  permission  to  appear  in  Washington,  D.  C, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  45 

I  started,  in  company  with  Corporal  S.  A.  Stoddard,  for 
Washington,  D.  C.,  April  3d,  1864.  Arrived  there 
April  9th,  and  on  the  llth  appeared  before  the  Board, 
hut  was  informed  that  they  were  not  granting  or  exami 
ning  for  commissions  in  artillery,  and  was  ordered  to 
return  to  the  company.  Applied  to  and  received  from 
Secretary  of  War  a  furlough  of  twenty  days.  Surren 
dered  up  my  furlough,  April  14th,  and  took  an  order  to 
return  to  the  company.  April  15th,  arrived  at  Norfolk, 
Ya.,  where,  missing  the  boat  connection  through  the 
Chesapeake  and  Albemarle  Canal,  was  obliged  to  wait 
over  until  Monday,  17th,  when  we  (Stoddard  and  I) 
started  for  .  Koanoke,  where  we  arrived  the  18th.  Had 
we  made  the  connection,  as  usual,  on  the  Saturday  morn 
ing  at  Norfolk,  we  would  have  been  in  Plymouth  Sun 
day  evening,  as  we  had  calculated;  but  thanks  for 
Divine  interposition  in  our  behalf,  we  were  delayed. 
Heard  first  of  the  fighting  at  Plymouth  when  we  arrived 
at  Coanjock  Bridge  and  changed  boats  for  Eoanoke. 
The  steamer  "  Massasoit,"  which  had  left  Plymouth  late 
on  Monday  night  with  women  and  children,  arrived  at 
the  island  early  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  as  soon  as  she 
could  be  coaled  up,  started  back  for  Plymouth.  We  re 
turned  with  the  "  Massasoit,"  and  when  about  two-thirds 
of  the  way  up  the  Sound,  we  met  a  gunboat,  having  on 
board  the  remains  of  the  gallant  Capt.  Flusser,  and 
bearing  the  sad  intelligence  that  the  ram  "  Albemarle" 
had  come  down  the  river  at  two  o'clock  that  morning, 
and  had  sunk  the  "  Commodore  Perry,"  and  driven  the 
"  Miami"  into  the  Sound,  thus  leaving  the  ram  in 
full  possession  of  the  river.  We  steamed  forward. 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


and  joined  our  fleet   near   the   mouth   of  the    Roanoke 
River. 

During  that  day  several  refugees  were  picked  up,  who 
had  escaped  by  coming  down  on  the  land  side  to  nearly 
opposite  the  fishery,  and  below  the  ram,  and  then  taking 
a  dug-out,  escaped.  Learning  that  this  passage  to 
Plymouth  was  unobstructed  by  the  enemy,  Lieut.  Lang- 
worthy,  of  the  Eighty-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  Stod- 
dard  and  myself,  tried  to  get  a  small  boat  to  go  up  to 
Plymouth  in,  but  without  avail,  luckily. 

Wednesday  afternoon,  an  old  "  darkie,"  who  lived  be 
low  the  town,  was  picked  up.  He  reported  that  the 
garrison  had  surrendered,  and  that  he  saw  the  flag  on 
Fort  "Williams  hauled  down.  Not  having  heard  any 
firing  of  guns  for  several  hours,  and  the  arrival  of  other 
refugees  corroborating  the  testimony  of  the  old  "  darkie," 
we  were  convinced  that  the  entire  garrison  of  Plymouth 
had  been  captured  by  the  enemy.  Several  "  transports" 
arrived  on  Wednesday  from  New  Berne  with  troops,  but 
finding  they  could  be  of  no  service,  they  returned  imme 
diately.  On  board  one  of  these  boats  I  found  Thomas 
McGuire,  William  Roach,  Dennis  Finnegan,  Lawrence 
Green,  Andrew  J.  Secor  and  Philemon  Farrell ;  all  but 
McGuire  being  recruits  for  the  battery.  These  I  had 
transferred  to  the  "  Massasoit,"  and  I  was  ordered  on 
board  of  a  sutler's  propeller  with  my  squad,  placed  in 
charge  of  a  load  of  refugees,  and  .ordered  to  proceed  to 
Roanoke  Island  and  report  to  the  commanding  officer. 
Thursday,  April  21st,  1864,  arrived  at  Roanoke  Island, 
and,  with  Corporal  Stoddard  and  the  six  men  before 
mentioned,  reported  to  Lieut.-Col,  Clark,  Eighty-fifth 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  47 

New  York  Volunteers,  commanding  at  Roanoke  Island, 
these  were  all  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Inde 
pendent  Battery,  for  duty.  Corporal  Stoddard  was 
ordered  to  report  with  the  men  to  Capt.  Barnum,  Six 
teenth  Connecticut  Volunteers,  commanding  Fort  Parke 
at  the  north  end  of  the  island.  I  was  detailed  to  report 
to  Capt.  George  C.  Wetherbee,  C.  S.  and  A.  A.  Q.  M., 
for  duty  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department.  I  remained 
as  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster's  office  on  Roanoke  from 
April  21st,  1864,  until  February  6th,  1865.  On  the 
28th  of  January,  1865,  I  received  a  commission  as  first 
lieutenant,  to  rank  from  December  28th,  1864,  vice 
George  S.  Hastings,  resigned.  On  the  23d  of  February 
I  assumed  command  of  the  battery  at  Fort  Foster, 
Roanoke  Island.  March  2d,  was  ordered  with  my  com 
mand  to  Shallow  Bag  Bay,  on  the  east  side  of  the  island, 
and  on  the  4th  was  ordered  from  headquarters,  District 
of  Beaufort^  to  proceed  to  Coanjock  Bridge,  on  the 
Chesapeake  and  Albemarle  Canal,  and  to  assume  com 
mand  of  that  station.  Remained  in  command  of  this 
station  until  May  25th,  when,  in  accordance  with  Special 
Order  52,  District  of  Beaufort,  reported  to  Colonel  C.  H. 
Stewart,  commanding  Third  New  York  Heavy  Artillery, 
at  New  Berne,  N.  C.  On  the  26th  of  May,  1865,  in 
accordance  with  Special  Order  No.  113,  War  Depart 
ment,  I  transferred  all  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Independent  Battery  over  to  the  Third  New 
York  Artillery,  and  on  the  29th  of  May,  1865,  was 
mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service,  at  New 
Berne,  N.  C.  Here  ended  my  military  career. 
Present  address,  Lockport,  N.  Y. 


48  RECORDS    OF    THE 

38.  CAMP,  GEORGE,  Mgunt  Morris,  N.  Y. — Mustered 
in,  April  1st,  1864. 

Promoted  corporal,  October  21st,  1864. 
Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

39.  CANFIELD,  S.   D.,  Syracuse,  K  Y.— Mustered  in, 
September  20th,  1862.     He  was  one  of  the  students  of 
Hamilton  College  who  joined  our  ranks.     His  stay  with 
the  Battery  was  short.     He  was  promoted  to  a  commis 
sion  in  a  New  York  Cavalry  Eegiment.     We  have  since 
heard  of  his  making  fortunes  in  oil  at  the  time  of  the  oil 
fever. 

We  cannot  ascertain  his  present  address. 

40.  CARNAHAN,  WM.,  Moscow,  N.  Y. — Mustered  in, 
August  30,  1862. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  K  C.  « 

While  at  Andersonville,  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital, 
and  recovered  so  as  to  be  able  to  assist  in  nursing  the 
sick. 

At  the  time  of  the  rumored  exchange,  he  was  sent 
with  one  of  the  first  squads  that  were  supposed  to  be 
going  to  Savannah.  But  the  writer,  on  arriving  at 
Millen,  was  surprised  to  find  Carnahan  there,  feasting  on 
sweet  potatoes,  and  seemingly  in  improved  physical  con 
dition. 

He  was  soon  after  exchanged,  and  was  finally  mus 
tered  out,  at  Syracuse,  July  7th.  1865.  We  afterwards 
heard  of  him,  as  a  "  Canvasser"  for  some  of  the  works  on 
"  Prison  Life." 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  49 

He  was  married  after  leavii^  the  army.  His  present 
address  is  Hubbardston,  Michigan. 

We  give  the  following  in  his  own  words,  under  date  of 
May  H,  1869: 

"  I  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  20th  April, 
1863.  Was  taken  to  Macon  Prison,  Ga.  Was  there  a  few 
days,  and  then  sent  to  Andersonville.  I  remained  there 
five  months.  I  was  in  the  stockade  two  months,  and 
then  I  was  taken  with  the  typhoid  fever,  and  sent  out  in 
the  hospital.  I  had  been  there  three  weeks  before  I 
knew  where  I  was.  After  I  came  to  myself,  I  found 
that  had  taken  care  of  me,  and  fed 

me.     I  consider  I  owe  my  life  to  him. 

"  From  the  village  of  Moscow,  there  were  twenty-two 
enlisted  in  this  company,  out  of  which  returned  two — 
Andrew  Ferguson  and  myself.  They  all  died  in  prison, 
but  two.  Murray  Grant  died  at  Plymouth,  of  sickness, 
and  George  Meade  was  shot  in  the  battle  when  we  were 
captured.  I  saw  him  after  he  was  dead.  The  rest  were 
taken  to  Andersonville',  to  their  long  home.  The  only 
brother  I  had  was  with  me.  I  parted  with  him  the  10th 
of  September.  The  poor  fellow  lies  outside  the  Ander 
sonville  stockade.  He  starved  to  death.  At  the  time 
he  died,  I  was  not  able  to  walk ;  so  some  of  my  comrades 
carried  me  in  a  blanket,  to  bid  him  good  bye  for  the  last 
time. 

"  I  was  taken  out  of  Andersonville,  after  being  there 
five  months,  and  sent  to  Savannah,  where  I  remained 
three  weeks — -and  a  long  three  weeks  it  was.  From 
there  I  was  sent  to  Millen,  and  there  remained  until  the 
rebels  routed  us  back  to  Savannah.  We  left  Millen  in 
4 


50  RECORDS    OF    THE 

the  morning,  and  Sherman's  cavalry  came  there  at  night. 
If  we  had  been  there  twelve  hours  longer  we  would  have 
been  captured  back.  So  after  we  got  to  Savannah,  the 
rebels  made  up  their  minds  they  had  better  let  us  go. 
So  after  we  had  been  there  three  days,  they  paroled  us, 
and  put  us  on  board  of  a  steamer,  and  sent  us  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Savannah  river,  where  we  met  one  of  the 
Yankee  boats.  It  was  the  happiest  day  that  I  ever  saw. 
Paroled,  November  25th,  1864.  After  I  was  paroled,  I 
was  sent  to  Parole  Camp,  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  then  got 
a  furlough  of  sixty  days.  When  I  got  home  I  weighed 
eighty  pounds,  and  during  the  sixty  days  of  my  furlough 
I  gained  a  pound  a  day.  After  my  furlough,  I  returned 
to  Annapolis,  and  there  was  on  detail,  as  orderly,  for 
Col.  Hutchins,  who  had  charge  of  issuing  checks  for 
prisoners  commutation  ration  money  at  College  Green 
barracks,  Annapolis.  I  was  there  three  months,  and 
then  sent  to  my  company,  to  New  Berne,  N".  C.  When 
I  got  there  I  found  about  twelve  of  the  old  boys.  It 
seemed  terribly  lonesome  to  find  so  few  of  my  old  com 
rades,  and  to  know  how  they  were  treated,  and  died— 
starved  to  death — and  a  near  and  dear  one  to  me  had 
gone  with  them  ;  the  only  brother  I  had  in  the  world.'1 

41.  CARNAHAN,  CHAS.,  Moscow. — Joined  for  service, 
December  19th,  1863.  Joined  the  company  for  duty, 
April  1,  1864. 

He  was  one  of  the  recruits  who  arrived  at  Plymouth 
just  in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle,  and  be  taken 
prisoner.  He  died  at  Andersonville  Stockade,  of  scorbutis, 
September  llth,  1864.  The  number  of  his  grave  is  8,470. 


TWENTY- FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BA.TTERY.  51 

42.  CHAPMAN,  JOHN,  Perry. — Mustered  in  at  Buffalo, 
October  26th,  1861. 

Chapman  was  the  wagoner,  and  in  the  post  he  oc 
cupied,  he  had  both  opportunity  and  disposition  to 
domineer  in  his  particular  province.  On  several  scouts 
or  foraging  expeditions,  the  boys  retaliated  a  little,  by 
starting  a  scare  of  "  rebels  approaching"!  which  brought 
out  from  John  a  wonderful  display  of  cracking  a  whip, 
and  handling  four-in-hand,  on  a  galop.  We  recall  the 
time  when  Sergeant  Camp  was  fired  at  by  our  own 
vidette,  and  an  alarm  raised  in  camp,  which  brought 
out  a  squad  under  Captain  Cady,  to  meet  and  assist  us. 
As  soon  as  John  fully  comprehended  that  rebels  were  re 
ported  near,  there  was  a  blanched  face — a  gathering  and 
tightening  of  the  reins — a  goad  of  a  long  lash,  and  a  yelp 
to  his  team,  that  would  have  fairly  awakened  a  Eip 
\ran  Winkle.  We  finally  overtook  him,  and  had  our 
laugh  at  him.  He  did  not  care  to  hear  the  story  after 
wards. 

He  re-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  in  January,  1864,  and 
received  a  veteran  furlough.  He  was  never  heard  of 
afterwards,  and  was  reported  as  a  deserter. 

43.  CHADBOURNE,   HENRY,    China,    K    Y.— Mustered 
in,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  Being  of  a  rather 
frail  constitution,  he  was  one  of  the  early  ones  that  was 
grasped  by  that  terrible  disease,  chronic  diarrhoea,  and  for 
want  of  proper  nourishment  and  medicines,  he  rapidly 
run  down  until  he  died.  He  died  June  18th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  2,157. 


52  RECORDS    OF    THE 

•44.  CHAPIN,  WM.  E.,  China,  1ST.  Y. — Mustered  in, 
August  30tli,  1862,  at  Buffalo. 

Shortly  after  his  joining  the  Battery,  he  was  ill,  and 
was  sent  to  the  hospital.  During  his  convalescence,  he 
proved  to  be  a  good  nurse,  and  continued  in  the  hos 
pital  in  different  positions.  Was  connected  with  the 
Hospitals  and  Sanitary  Garden  all  the  time  he  was  in 
the  service.  He  was  finally  mustered  out  of  service, 
and  returned  to  his  home — China,  Wyoming  Co. 

Present  address,  La  Salle,  111. 

45.  CLARK,  C.  A.— Enlisted,  October  1,  1861.  Mus 
tered  into  service,  October  26th.  Promoted  to  quarter 
master  sergeant,  in  June,  1862.  Assigned  the  command 
of  a  detachment,  as  duty  sergeant,  at  Newport  barracks, 
in  December,  1862.  Re-enlisted,  as  a  veteran  volunteer, 
at  Plymouth,  in  February,  1864.  Went  north,  on  leave, 
in  March.  Received  second  lieutenant's  commission  in 
Sixteenth  New  York  Artillery,  but  on  account  of  sick 
ness  was  unable  to  accept  it.  Remained  in  Perry,  N.Y., 
until  January,  1865.  Commissioned  as  second  lieuten 
ant  in  Twentieth  Battery,  on  duty  at  Governor's  Island, 
N.  Y.  H.  Battery  removed  to  Battery  barracks,  N.  Y. 
City,  in  May.  Promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  in  May, 
1865.  Mustered  out,  August  5,  1865. 

Entered  the  employ  of  the  ITnited  States  Telegraph  Co. ; 
remained  until  its  consolidation  with  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Co.  Then  entered  the  office  of  the  "  North 
America  "  Life  Insurance  Co.,  where  he  continues. 

Present  address, — care  of  North  America  Life  Insur 
ance  Co.,  17  &  19  Warren  Street,  New  York  City, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  53 

46.  CLUTE,  H.  V.,  Cnylerville. — Mustered  in,  August 
30th,  1862. 

He  acted  as  assistant  artificer,  with  Calteaux. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  He  was  not  in  good 
health  when  captured,  having  suffered  from  chills  and 
fever  while  at  Plymouth ;  and  this  disease  seemed  to 
cling  to  him  after  he  reached  Andersonville.  He  died, 
May  30th,  1864,  of  intermittent  fever.  The  number  of 
his  grave  is  1,497. 

47.  COMSTOCK,   A.   W.,  Perry. — Mustered  in,  August 
30th,  1862. 

During  the  battle  of  Plymouth,  he  had  charge  of-  the 
horses  attached  to  the  limber  chest  of  Crocker's  piece, 
which  was  posted  at  the  parapet  off  from  the  right  of 
our  park  at  Plymouth.  The  rebels  having  taken  the 
little  fort  occupied  by  Capt.  Chapin,  of  the  Eighty-fifth 
New  York,  had  concentrated  their  fire  on  the  embrazure 
which  Crooker's  piece  occupied.  One  of  the  rebel  shells 
or  balls  passed  through  the  embrazure,  struck  the  limber 
chest,  and  caused  an  explosion  of  the  ammunition  which 
it  contained.  By  this  explosion  Comstock  was  wrounded, 
and  some  of  the  horses  which  he  was  in  charge  of  were 
killed  and  some  wounded. 

Comstock  was  carried  to  the  hospital,  said  to  be 
wounded  in  the  thigh.  He  died  May  9th,  1864. 

48.  COOK,  HARLO,  Hamlin. — Joined  for  service,  Octo 
ber  26th,  1861. 

Discharged  at  Academy  Hospital,  New  Berne,  for 
inability  on  account  of  dropsical  affections,  June,  1862. 


54:  KECOKDS   OF    THE 

49.  CORBIN,  B.  F.,  Hamlin. — Enlisted  by  Lieut.  Cady, 
and  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  25th,  1861.     He 
was  appointed  corporal,  January  1st,  1864,  and  promoted 
to  sergeant,  April  14th,  1864.     He  re-enlisted  in  Janu 
ary,  1864  ;  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at 
Andersonville,    June   9th,    1864,    of  chronic  diarrluea. 
The  number  of  his  grave  is  1,778. 

He  was  among  the  first  of  our  comrades  who  fell  be 
fore  that  terrible  disease.  Being  a  strong,  hearty  man, 
it  was  impossible  for  him  to  supply  the  demands  of  his 
appetite  by  means  of  the  usual  prison  rations.  Want  of 
food  was  the  beginning  of  his  illness,  and  the  corn  bread 
whicli  was  furnished  him  only  tended  to  irritate  his 
stomach  and  aggravate  the  disease.  We  were  finally 
enabled  to  purchase  some  milk-  and  some  berries  for  him 
while  in  the  hospital,  but  it  was  too  late.  He  was  con 
scious  that  death  was  near,  and  was  perfectly  resigned. 
He  died  easily  and  almost  imperceptibly. 

50.  CORKWELL,  JOHN,  Rochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  for 
one  year,   September  27th,  1864.    Transferred  to  Third 
New  York  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

51.  Co  WEN,  JAMES,  Albany. — Mustered   in    at   New 
Berne,  May  21st,  1862.     He  was  absent  on  furlough  at 
the  time  of  the  capture  of  Plymouth.    Was  promoted  to 
corporal,  December  10th,  1864.  Mustered  out  at  Albany, 
in  June.     Present  address,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

52.  CROOKER,WM.W.,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  October 
3d,  1861.      Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  January  1st,  1864. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  55 

Promoted  to  orderly  sergeant,  April  14th,  1864.  Taken 
prisoner,  April  20th,  1864.  Appointed  by  Governor 
Fenton  of  New  York  as  captain  of  the  battery,  vice  *L.  A. 
Cady,  resigned,  to  date,  January  10th,  1865.  Transferred 
to  Third  New  York  Artillery  as  orderly  sergeant.  Crooker 
had  charge  of  one  of  the  divisions  in  tiie  Andersonville 
Hospital,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  alleviate  the  suffer 
ings  of  his  fellows.  He  still  bitterly  resents  the  treat 
ment  of  the  men  at  that  stockade,  and  theorizes  that 
our  Government  was  as  much  to  blame  as  was  the  Con- 
iederate  Government.  After  his  discharge  from  the 
army  he  visited  the  Southern  States.  He  finally  mar 
ried  there,  and  has  settled  at  Jeffersonville,  Indiana. 
We  are  sorry  that  his  business  duties  were  so  overwhelm 
ing  that  he  could  not  spare  the  time  to  write  us  a  sketch 
of  his  experience. 

His  travels  in  the  process  of  exchange  were  in  quite  a 
different  direction  from  that  which  most  of  us  were 
obliged  to  participate  in.  We  understand  that  Crooker 
was  in  the  same  squad  with  Birdsall.  (See  Birdsall's 
personal  sketch.) 

53.  CROOKS,  J. — His  name  appears  on  the  roll,  but  we 
know  nothing  of  him. 

54.  CROSBY,    M.,   Sardinia,   N.   Y. — Mustered    in    at 
Buffalo,  October  26th,  1861.     Re-enlisted  at  Plymouth 
in  January,   1864.     Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth 
and    died    at     Andersonville     Hospital,     of     typhoid 
fever,  July   14th,    1864.     The   number  of    his   grave  is 
3,324. 


56  RECORDS    OF   THE 

He  was  an  athletic  man,  a  good  soldier,  a  whole-souled 
fellow.  He  endured  everything  cheerfully  and  bravely. 

55.  CROTJNCE,  GEORGE,   Albany. — Was  mustered  in  at 
Albany,    in    September   or   October,    1801.     His   pecu 
liarly    feminine    appearance    gave    him   the    sobriquet 
of  "  Miss  Crounce."      His  tastes  and  pursuits  were  as 
girlish   as  his  form.     His  tent  was  always  tidy  and  in 
order  and  his  culinary  skill  unsurpassable.     He  was  too 
a  good  man  at  his  post,  at  the  piece,  and  showed  coolness 
and  bravery  in  battle. 

He  re-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  in  January,  1864.  Was 
taken  prisoner  and  died  at  Andersonville  Stockade,  of 
intermittent  fever,  June  20th,  1 864.  The  number  of  his 
grave  is  2,273. 

56.  CUSIOK,  HIRAM,  Rochester,  ~N.  Y. — Enlisted  for  one 
year,  October  10th,  1864.      Transferred   to   Third  K  Y. 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.    Joined,  November  9th,  1864. 

57.  CULVER,  A.  L.,  Gainsville. — Mustered  *in,  August 
30th,  1862.     Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth  ;  he  had 
been  suffering  from  intermittent  fever  in  Plymouth,  and 
the  experiences   of  Andersonville  did  not  aid  him  in  re 
cuperating.  He  died  in  the  stockade,  of  chronic  diarrhoea, 
July  27th,  1864.     The  number  of  his  grave  is  4,119. 

58.  CYPHER,  GEORGE  W.,  Kingston,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
for  one  year,  September  9th,  1864.    Transferred  to  Third 
N.  Y.  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.     Joined  October  18th, 
1864,  at  Eoanoke. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  57 

59.  DAVIS,  ORNAU,  Leicester. — Mustered  in,  January 
5th,  1864.     Arrived  at  Plymouth  in  time  to  take  part 
in  the  battle  and  be  taken   prisoner.     Joined  for  duty, 
April  1st,  1864. 

Ferguson  reports  that  he  died  at  Charleston. 

60.  DOLBEER,  CHAS.  H.,  Ferry,  K.  Y. — Enlisted  on  the 
25th  of  August,  1862,  at  Perry,  Wyoming  County,  N.Y., 
and  was  mustered   in  August  30th,  at  Buffalo.     Joined 
the  Battery,  the  25th  September,  at  Newport  Barracks, 
N.  C. 

On  the  4th  of  November  was  appointed  orderly- 
sergeant.  «  January  6th,  1863,  by  orders  from  Brigade 
Head  Quarters,  General  Ledlie  commanding,  was  pro 
moted  to  junior  second  lieutenant.  January  13th, 
1863,  by  orders  from  same  head  quarters,  (General 
Ledlie,)  was  detailed  as  "  Chief  of  Brigade  Ambulance 
Corps,"  and  reported  to  Chief  of  Division,  Ambulance 
Corps,  for  duty.  March  17th,  relieved  from  duty  on 
Ambulance  Corps.  Was  commissioned  as  second  lieu 
tenant,  June  23d,  1863 — (See  Adjutant-General's  Report, 
N.  Y.  State,  1868.)  Was  mustered  out  at  Plymouth, 
N.  C.,  January  21st,  1864,  in  compliance  with  orders 
from  War  Department,  dated  January  6th,  1864.  Dis 
charged  from  service,  January  22d,  1868. — (See  report 
above  referred  to.)  While  on  detached  service  in  Am 
bulance  Corps,  January  26th,  1863,  in  compliance  with 
orders,  reported  on  board  General  Foster's  flag  ship, 
"  Spalding,"  off  Morehead  City ;  arrived  off  Charleston, 
January  31st,  and  at  Port  Royal,  February  2d.  Re 
turned  to  New  Berne,  February  llth,  1863.  While  on 


RECORDS  OF 

the  same  service,  March  7th,  8th,  9th,  and  10th,  went 
with  the  expedition  up  the  Trent.  On  the  8th,  found 
the  Rebs  at  White  Oak  River.  Having  been  relieved 
from  this  duty,  moved,  March  26th,  with  the  centre  sec 
tion  of  Battery,  on  board  steamer  "  Escort,"  lying  at 
New  Berne,  and  arrived  at  Plymouth,  the  28th.  July 
26th,  moved  with  centre  section  to  Jamestown.  In 
skirmish  at  Foster's  Hill,  the  27th,  and  returned  to 
Plymouth,  the  29th. 

Having  obtained  leave  of  absence  to  go  out  of  the 
Department  (which  extended  to  Fortress  Monroe),  for 
twenty  days,  left  Plymouth,  on  the  17th  September, 
1863,  and  visited  friends  in  New  York  St^e  and  in 
Michigan.  Returned  to  the  command,  the  17th  Octo 
ber,  1863.  The  report  to  corps  headquarters,  in  compli 
ance  with  order  No.  2,  of  the  19th  August,  1863,  not 
explaining  the  overstay  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  com 
mission  appointed  to  examine  and  report  upon  such 
matters,  charges  were  preferred  for  "  absence  without 
leave  "  ;  and  before  a  court  martial,  of  which  Lieutenant 
George  S.  Hastings,  of  the  Battery,  was  Judge-Advocate, 
was  tried  and  acquitted,  as  the  following  copy  of 
general  order,  No.  51,  will  show. 

HEAD-QUARTERS, 
ARMY  AND  DISTRICT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

New  Berne,  N.  C.,  Dec.  31,  1863. 
General  Orders, 
No.  51. 

Before  a  General  Court  Martial,  which  convened  at 
Plymouth,  N.  C.,  on  the  17th  day  of  December,  1863, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY. 

pursuant  to  General  Orders,  ~No.  45,  dated  Head-Quar 
ters,  Army  and  District  of  North  Carolina,  New  Berne, 
N.  C.,  December  14th,  1863,  of  which  Col.  T.  F. 
Lehman,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers,  is  President,  were  arraigned  and  tried  :  *  *  * 

£j 

No.  2. 

Second  Lieutenant  C.  II.  Dolbeer,  Twenty-fourth 
Independent  Battery,  New  York  Volunteers  : — Charge, 
u  Absence  without  leave." 

Specifications — "  In  this,  that  he,  Second  Lieutenant 
C.  H.  Dolbeer,  Twenty-fourth  Independent  Battery,  N. 
Y.  V.,  having  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  twenty  days 
—Special  .Orders,  No.  52,  Head-Quarters,  Department 
of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina — did,  on  or  about  the 
18th  day  of  September,  1863,  leave  the  camp  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Independent  Battery,  N.  Y.  V.,  near 
Plymouth,  N.  C.,  and  did  not  rejoin  his  Battery  until 
the  17th  of  October,  1863.  All  this  near  Plymouth, 
N.  C. 

To  which  charge  and  specification,  the  accused  pleaded 
as  follows  :— "  Not  Guilty." 

The  Court,    after  mature  deliberation  upon  the  evi 
dence  adduced,  find  the  accused  as  follows  : 
Of  the  Specifications. ."  Guilty." 
Of  the  Charge "  Not  Guilty." 

The  Court  are  of  the  opinion,  that  prior  to  circular, 
dated  Head-Quarters,  Army  and  District  of  North 
Carolina,  New  Berne,  ]J.  C.,  October  9th,  1863,  that 
leaves  of  absence  were  generally  construed  to  commence 
from  the  date  of  leaving  the  Department,  and  that  con 
struction  is  applied  to  this  case.  The  accused  reported 


60  fcECORDS    OF   THE 

in  time,  at  Fort  Monroe,  and  returned  to  his  post  as 
speedily  as  transportation  was  afforded.  His  leave  of 
absence  apparently  allowed  him  twenty  days  from 
Fort  Monroe. 

The  Court  do  therefore  acquit  him,  Second  Lieutenant 
C.  H.  Dolbeer,  of  Twenty-fourth  Independent  Battery, 
1ST.  Y.  Y. 

The  proceedings  and  findings  in  the  cases  of     * 
and  Second  Lieutenant  C.   H.  Dolbeer,  Twenty-fourth 
Independent  Battery,   New  York  Yolunteers,    are  ap 
proved  and  confirmed. 

By  command  of  Major  General  PECK. 

BENJ.  B.  FOSTER, 
(Official.)  Asst.  Adjt.  General. 

After  returning  from  the  army,  resumed  former  occu 
pation,  as  book  keeper,  in  the  office  of  Alva,  Smith  & 
Son,  Batavia,  ~N.  Y.,  remaining  one  year.  He  then 
resided  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  being  employed  in  the  office  of 
L.  &  D.  Babcock,  in  the  examination  of  land  titles. 

Present  address, — Batavia,  N.  Y. 

61.  DURYEA,  GEORGE,  Perry. — Mustered  in,  Novem 
ber,  25th,  1861. 

Deserted  some  time  in  April  or  May,  1862. 

He  afterwards  returned  to  the  company  and  did  his 
duty  as  a  soldier  and  like  a  man  ;  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth ;  exchanged  at  Charleston,  December  6th, 
1864:.  For  a  long  time  he  was  obliged  to  remain  at 
home,  on  furlough,  being  dangerously  ill,  from  the  effects 
of  his  prison  life.  We  have  not  been  able  to  find  his 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY. 

address,  and  therefore  cannot  give  date  of  his  discharge 
from  service. 

62.  DURYEA,  JOSEPH,  Perry. — Enlisted  with  Samuel 
Andrus. 

He  deserted  the  company  at  the  same  time  that  his 
brother  George  and  Grisewood  did,  and  went  to  Canada. 
His  name  was  dropped  from  the  company  roll.  His  present 
address — Elizabethport,  New  Jersey. 

63.  EASTWOOD,  EDWIN  M.,  Brooks  Grove. — Mustered 
in,  August  30th,  1862. 

Eastwood  was  a  cautious,  steady  soldier.  A  Christian, 
and  a  man  who  desired  to  do  right  with  all  whom  he 
came  in  contact  with.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth.  He  died  at  the  Andersonville  Hospital,  July 
30th,  1864,  of  chronic  diarrhoea.  The  number  of  his 
grave  is  4,4-10. 

He  was  aware  that  death  was  near,  and  was  prepared 
for  it.  He  made  a  disposition  of  the  few  mementos  he 
had,  and  we  had  the  pleasure  of  returning  them  to  his 
parents.  In  reply  we  received  from  them  one  of  the 
kindest  and  most  satisfactory  communications  that  has 
been  addressed  to  us  since  our  return  from  the  army. 

64.  FAKRELL,   PHILEMON,   Rochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
March  24th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  26th, 
1865. 

Found  at  mouth  of  Eoanoke  river,  April  20,  1864, 
just  after  the  Battery  were  captured.  A  lucky  boy. 


62  RECORDS   OF    THE 

• 

65.   FERRIN,   »J.   T. — We  give  his  letter  verbatim    et 

seriatim  : 

"  HOLLAND,  N.  Y. 

"  I  enlisted  the  18th  of  October,  1861,  at  Perry,  Wyoming  County, 
N.  Y.  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  26th,  1861.  Mustered  out, 
the  18th  of  July  ,1865,  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  I  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran, 
January  1st,  1864,  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.  Was  in  the  battle  of 
Plymouth,  the  18th,  19th  and  20th  of  April,  1864,  where  I  was 
taken  prisoner. 

"  I  was  in  Andersonville,  Charleston  and  Florence  prisons.  I  got 
to  Andersonville  the  1st  of  May,  and  there  I  had  an  introduction 
to  old  WIRZ  ;  he  put  us  into  the  stockade  to  live  on  one  pint  of 
meal  a  day  and  a  teaspoonfull  of  salt  every  other  day.  It  was 
rather  tough  fare  at  first.  I  was  not  quite  as  cunning  as  some  of 
the  boys  when  I  was  captured,  for  I  did  not  take  away  blankets, 
for  I  supposed  I  was  going  to  be  taken  better  care  of  than  I  was. 
But  when  I  got  to  prison  I  found  out  that  I  had  got  to  have  some 
thing  to  keep  me  warm  and  to  keep  the  sun  off,  so  I  bought  a 
blanket,  and  paid  thirty-five  dollars  Confederate  money.  The  next 
night,  Morton  Crosby,  one  of  my  tent  mates,  had  his  blanket  stolen 
off  him ;  so  three  of  us  boys  clubbed  together  and  bought  another 
one.  The  2d  of  June  I  went  into  the  hospital.  I  was  put  into 
Dr.  Barrow's  ward  ;  he  did  all  he  could  for  me,  and  cured  me  in 
a  short  time.  By  the  1st  of  July  I  was  able  to  go  around  the 
stockade.  I  was  there  until  the  9th  of  July,  when  James  Calkins, 
of  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  John  Burgoin,  of  the  Eighty-eighth 
Illinois  Regiment,  thought  that  we  would  go  home.  So  the  night 
of  the  9th  of  July  we  got  over  the  stockade,  down  by  the  sink. 
When  we  got  over,  we  went  into  the  water  almost  waist  deep.  I 
was  some  time  getting  over,  for  when  I  got  on  the  top  of  the 
stockade,  the  guard  turned  and  came  athwart  me,  and  stood  stil] 
for  some  time,  I  thought,  but  I  finally  got  over  all  right.  I  had 
not  gone  far,  when  I  ran  foul  of  some  brush,  and  in  putting  my  hand 
•  out,  I  got  hold  of  a  snake.  I  suppose  it  was  one  ;  at  any  rate,  it 
slipped  through  my  fingers  like  one.  We  traveled  around  until 
morning,  when  we  got  out  of  the  swamp,  and  laid  in  the  woods  all 
day.  We  traveled  the  whole  of  the  next  night  again,  and  got  along 
very  well  until  the  morning  of  the  12th,  when  we  were  near 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  63 

* 

the  swamp.  We  heard  the  dogs  bark,  and  we  made  for  some  trees, 
but  I  could  not  climb,  I  was  so  weak.  The  dogs  came  up,  but  the 
men  were  right  behind  them,  so  they  did  not  bite  me.  If  it  had  not 
been  for  that,  I  should  have  been  nibbled  some.  We  were  within 
about  ten  miles  of  Macon,  having  traveled  about  fifty  miles  ;  in  another 
week  we  would  have  been  inside  of  our  lines. 

"  They  were  old  farmers  that  captured  us,  and  had  three  blood 
hounds  and  a  bull  terrier.  We  went  back  to  Andersonville,  and  old 
Wiiv,  told  us  that  we  would  be  the  last  ones  paroled,  and  he  put  me 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  (106th)  Detachment. 

"  I  went  inside  of  the  stockade  in  time  to  see  the  raiders  hung,  and 
I  stayed  there  until  the  llth  of  September,  when  I  went  out  with  the 
Twenty-sixth  Detachment,  with  the  promise  of  going  home.  But  we 
went  to  Charleston,  and  from  there  to  Florence.  By  the  time  I  got 
there  I  could  not  sit  up,  so  I  was  put  out  of  the  cars  by  the  side  of  the 
railroad,  with  about  thirty-five  others.  We  laid  there  until  Dr.  Dar- 
gin,  a  Rebel  doctor,  came  to  our  relief.  He  put  us  into  an  old  barn, 
and  rigged  it  up  for  a  hospital.  He  took  good  care  of  us.  There  was 
myself,  John  Brooks  and  Harry  H.  Foster,  of  the  Twenty -fourth. 
There  John  Brooks  died  ;  there  Foster  and  myself  lived.  By  the  end 
of  October  I  was  able  to  go  around,  when  one  morning  the  doctor 
came  down  and  said  he  had  orders  for  all  that  were  well  enough  to 
go  to  the  stockade,  and  that  made  me  sick  again  right  away.  But  as 
soon  as  he  told  us  that  he  had  got  a  parole  for  all  that  would  work  for 
him,  I  felt  better.  And  so  nine  of  us  worked  from  that  time  until  the 
8th  of  December,  when  we  were  paroled  for  good.  I  went  from  Flor 
ence  to  Charleston,  and  they  put  us  into  the  Roper  Hospital,  where 
we*  stayed  three  days.  The  guard  told  us  that  we  were  to  go  back 
again  to  prison,  which  made  us  feel  very  bad,  but  the  third  morning 
we  got  on  board  the  steamer  '  Clemb,'  and  started  for  our  boats  near 
Fort  Sumter.  When  we  came  in  sight  of  the  old  flag,  those  who  had 
oaps  took  them  off  and  gave  one  shout ;  it  was  a  glad  one.  But  the 
Rebs  shut  us  up  with,  '  You  will  go  back  to  Charleston  if  you 
don't  stop  that.'  I  went  to  Annapolis,  and  there  got  a  furlough 
home,  and  returned  to  Camp  Parole,  March  27th,  1865.  Went 
from  Camp  Parole  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  from  there  to  Norfolk, 
Va.,  where  we  took  the  boat  through  the  Dismal  Swamp  Canal  for 
North  Carolina.  Arrived  at  Coinjock  Station,  where  my  company 
were  at  camp,  under  Lieutenant  Camp.  Left  Coinjock  the  ^7th  of 


64  RECORDS    OF   THE 

May.  Arrived  at  Roanoke  during  the  night ;  started  for  New  Berne, 
on  board  the  '  Ella  May,'  on  the  18th.  Awoke  the  next  morning  and 
found  myself  on  board  the  boat  '  Tay,'  at  Foster's  Dock.  We  went 
into  camp  across  the  tent,  in  the  same  place  that  we  did  three  years 
ago.  On  the  23d  of  June  we  got  orders  to  get  ready  to  go  home. 
Went  to  Beaufort,  and  started  on  board  the  'Edward  Ewett'  for  New 
York  ;  thence  to  Albany,  and  from  there  to  Syracuse,  where  we  were 
discharged  the  18th  of  July,  1865.  Married,  November  3d,  1865,  to 
Helen  M.  Cheney,  of  Holland,  Erie  County.  Present  residence,  Hol 
land,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  Occupation,  blacksmith." 

66.  FERGUSON,  ANDREW  T. — Enlisted  August  30th, 
1862,  at  Moscow. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  Sept.  10th,  1862. 

Received  a  corporal's  warrant. 

Ferguson  was  a  good  gunner  and  made  some  capital 
target  shots.  Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  .N.  C. 
Ferguson's  music,  which  was  always  such  a  pleasure  to 
the  Battery  boys,  charmed  even  those  Southern  beasts, 
and  an  occasional  desire  among  the  Reb  officers  to  hear 
a  tune,  put  him  in  favor  with  them.  It  was  during  one 
of  these  respites  that  lie  witnessed  the  destruction  of  the 
letters,  as  told  elsewhere. 

He  was  sent  from  the  stockade  to  the  hospital  to,do 
police  duty,  and  from  there  went,  on  September  9th, 
1864,  with  one«of  the  first  squads  that  were  said  to  be* 
going  to  Savannah  for  exchange.  He,  however,  found 
himself  shipped  into  the  prison  at  Charleston.  From 
there  he  was  sent  to  Florence,  and  was  exchanged  at 
Charleston,  December  6th,  1864. 

After  receiving  furlough  at  Annapolis,  he  went  home, 
and  was  very  sick  three  months.  He  again  reported  to 
his  company,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Syracuse  on  July 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  65 

18th,  1865.  He  then  resumed  his  former  occupation  of 
teaching  dancing  and  deportment.  We  quote  the  follow 
ing  from  "  The  Wyoming  Sun,"  November  20th,  1868  : 

"  Prof.  Ferguson  proposes  to  open  a  school  for  dancing  and  deport 
ment  in  this  village  as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrangements  can  be 
completed.  The  successful  and  creditable  manner  in  which  his 
school  was  conducted  last  winter  has  given  him  a  very  favorable 
reputation  as  an  accomplished  teacher  and  a  worthy  gentleman,  and 
we  have  no  doubt  he  will  meet  with  a  liberal  encouragement." 

His  present  address  is  Cuylerville,  N.  Y. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  in  reply  to 
a  query  of  ours  : 

"Yours  of  the  18th  inst.  came  to  hand  in  due  time,  making 
some  inquiries  concerning  the  dark  days.  It  is  still  fearful  to 
think  of.  concerning  Wirz  and  some  letters.  About  the  1st  of 
September  I  went  to  his  head-quarters  tent  to  get  a  pass  to  go  and 
play  for  a  dance  at  his  house,  three  miles  away.  At  his  tent  were 
his  wife's  daughters,  examining  letters,  reading  every  one,  and 
destroying  such  ones  as  commented  on  the  situation.  (This  a  boy 
told  me  that  lived  with  them.)  The  pile  of  letters  I  myself  saw. 
After  I  had  played  for  the  party,  I  went  to  live  with  Dr.  White, 
surgeon  of  the  post.  Then  I  saw  the  destruction  of  pretty  much 
all  of  the  letters  that  had  been  written  by  the  prisoners  up  to  that 
time.  (This  occurred  on  the  evening  that  Stoneman  shelled  Macon, 
about  the  6th  of  September.)  The  doctor  brought  out  of  the  house 
more  than  two  bushels  of  letters.  We  seated  ourselves  around  the 
pile,  and  tore  off  the  stamps,  and  opened  as  many  as  we  liked.  I  saved 
and  brought  home  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  stamps,  and  de 
stroyed  twice  as  many.  '  We,'  including  the  doctor,  his  mistress  (she 
that  claimed  to  be  Provost-Marshal  Reede's  wife),  myself,  and  an 
Irishman  that  was  then  making  shoes.  The  letters*  made  a  pile  as 
high  as  a  table.  This  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  He  said 
they  '  would  drive  away  musquitos,'  and  put  fire  to  them,  and  the 
wail  of  the  poor  prisoners  ascended  higher  than  the  smoke. 

Truly  yours, 

A.  T.  FERGUSON, 
5 


66  RECORDS    OF   THE 

67.  FILBIN,  JOHN,  Perry. — Muttered  in,  August  30th, 
1862.     Notwithstanding  that,  when   at  home,  he  was  a 
strong  man   and  a  hard  worker,   change  of  scene  and 
climate  threw  him  into  a  chronic  state  of  sickness.     He 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth  and  is  reported  to  have 
died  at  Florence. 

68.  FINNIGAN,  DENNIS,  Warsaw,  N.Y.— Enlisted  March 
24th,  1864.     Transferred  to  Third  K  Y.  Artillery,  May 
25th,  1865.     Joined  April  20th,  1864. 

A  quick  witted  lad. 

69.  FITCH,   CHAS.  W.,  Perry. — Mustered  in,  August 
30th,  1862.     Charley  was  a  pleasant,  sociable  comrade. 
He  understood  and  did  his  duty,  and,  therefore,  made  a 
faithful,  commendable  soldier.     He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Plymouth.     He  died  at  Andersonville  Hospital,  of 
pneumonia,  August  4th,  1864.     The  number  of  his  grave 
is  4,819. 

70.  FITZGERALD,  THOMAS,  Perry. — Mustered  in,  August 
30th,  1862.     "Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth  and  died 
at  Andersonville  Stockade,  August  21st,  1864.     We  did 
not  see  so  much  of  him  after  we  reached  Andersonville, 
and  can,  therefore,  say  but  little  about  his  sickness  or 
death. 

71.  FITZPATRICK,  PIERCE,  Albany. — Joined  for  service, 
November  16th,  1861.     Ee-enlisted  in  January,  1864,  as 
a  veteran. 

Fitzpatrick  was  a  very  peculiar  fellow,  a  great  speeu- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  67 

lator,  a  kind  of  battery  sutler.  His  eagerness  to  "  make 
a  strike,"  when  we  were  out  on  a  march  or  a  raid,  often 
led  him  into  trouble — (See  account  of  the  Trenton 
march).  He  was  of  a  fierce  and  nervous  disposition- 
even  slightly  bordering  on  insanity.  Was  always  writing 
letters  to  the  President,  suggesting  the  best  means  of  con 
ducting  the  war.  Writing  so  bad  that  no  one  but  himself 
could  read  it,  and  he  not  when  it  had  got  cool.  At  the  first 
of  the  attack  on  Plymouth,  he  caused  considerable  mer 
riment  among  the  members  of  the  Battery  by  pursuing  a 
portion  of  an  exploded  rebel  shell,  which  had  just  passed 
by  his  head,  with  a  velocity  which,  probably  would  not 
have  been  abated  much  had  his  head  interfered.  He 
considered  that  piece  of  shell  very  valuable  as  a  "  relic," 
and  stowed  it  away  in  his  pocket  with  the  remark  that 
"  money  couldn't  buy  it." 

On  the  morning  of  the  last  day  of  the  battle,  he  was 
stationed  at  the  corner  of  intersecting  streets,  on  the  ex 
treme  left  of  the  line  of  works,  in  charge  of  the  caisson 
and  caisson  horses,  belonging  to  Merrill's  detachment. 
The  rebels  had  broken  through  the  left  of  the  works, 
and  were  marching  directly  upon  the  right.  As  they 
approached,  they  called  upon  Fitzpatrick  to  surrender, 
but  he  unflinchingly  refused.  At  this  time  the  rebels 
fired  a  volley,  simultaneously  with  a  double-shotted 
canister  discharge  from  the  piece  to  which  Fitzpatrick 
belonged, — and  he  fell.  Nearly  all  of  the  Battery  horses 
and  many  of  the  rebels  were  killed  by  the  canister.  No 
one  can  tell  whether  he  was  killed  by  the  canister  or  by 
the  bullets  of  the  rebels, 


68  RECORDS    OF   THE 

72.  FLYNN,  JAMES,  Hamlin. — Joined  for  duty  October 
21st,  1861.     Ke-enlisted,  as  a  veteran,  January  8th,  1864. 
He  was  promoted  to  corporal  while  at  Plymouth.     He 
suffered  a  great  deal  from  chills  and  fever  at  Plymouth  ; 
at  one  time  he  fell  down  a  flight  of  stairs  in  a  congestive 
chill  and  was  taken  up  for  dead.     Corporal  Hurlburt 
was  near  with  some  restorative,  and  doubtless,  by  his 
prompt  action,  Flynn's  life  was  saved.     He  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Plymouth  and  died  at  Anderson ville  Stockade, 
September  10th,  186-1,  of  scorbutis.     The  number  of  his 
grave  is  8,378. 

73.  FOSTER,  HENRY    (alias  Henry    Frost). — Enlisted 
at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  on  the  24th  February,  1864.     Mus 
tered  in  at  Kiker's  Island,  1ST.  Y.,   March  10th,   1864, 
and  joined  for  duty  at  Plymouth,  N".  C.,  March  14th, 
1864,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  20th  of  April, 
and  was  marched  one  hundred  miles,  to  Tarboro,  N.  C., 
en  route  for  Anderson  ville  Prison.     Remained  there  five 
months ;  was  then  transferred  to  Florence,  S.  C.,  and 
was   in   prison   there   three   months.     Was   paroled   at 
Charleston   Harbor,    S.  C.,  on  the  steamer  "Yerona." 
December  llth,  1864,  arrived  at  Camp  Parole,  Annapo- 
Jis,   Md.      December  15th,  got  a   furlough  from    24th 

December,  to  January  25th,  1865.  On  the  way  home 
ward,  was  seized  with  typhoid  fever,  and  taken  to  Cam- 
den  Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  December  29th,  where 
he  was  sick  five  months.  He  was  discharged  from  ser 
vice,  May  13th,  1866.  Married  a  young  lady  of  Phila 
delphia,  July  25th,  1865,  at  New  Berlin,  Union  Co., 
Penn. 


TWENTY-FOURTH   NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  69 

Tliis  young  man  saw  an  advertisement  in  the  New 
York  papers — "  Wanted  a  Pay  Master's  Clerk,"  and  as 
he  was  subject  to  draft,  the  best  thing  he  could  do  would 
be  to  accept  some  such  position  and  get  out  of  it.  He 
accordingly  went  to  New  York,  and  applied  for  the 
position.  Was  greeted  cordially,  asked  to  drink,  and 
told  that  that  position  had  just  been  filled,  but  that  they 
had  another  position  equally  as  good,  that  of  captain's 
clerk.  Drank  several  times,  and  then  concluded  to 
accept  the  position  of  captain's  clerk,  for  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Independent  Battery.  The  papers  were  drawn 
up,  and  he  was  told  that  before  accepting  the  position 
it  would  be  necessary  for  him  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Government,  this  he  did,  then  drank  the  health  of  all 
hands,  and  knew  no  more  until  the  next  morning,  when 
he  woke  up,  dressed  in  uniform  on  Eiker's  Island.  Was 
forwarded  to  the  company  and  duly  presented  himself  to 
Capt.  Cady,  March  10th,  1861,  as  his  clerk,  and  was 
astonished  and  disappointed  to  find  that  he  was  a  soldier, 
and  was  assigned  to  Camp's  detachment  as  an  extra  duty 
man  and  had  charge  of  the  Big  Gray  Horse. 

This  was  his  story  after  arrival  at  the  company. 

Present  address,  No.  333  Franklin  Street,  Baltimore, 
Md. 

74.  GALUSHA,  JONAS  E.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August 
29th,  1862. 

Mustered  in,  August  30th,  1862,  at  Buffalo. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  Was  exchanged,  and 
died  at  the  Parole  Camp,  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  December 
19th,  1864,  of  chronic  diarrhoaa. 


70  RECORDS    OF    THE 

He  was  a  quick,  active  soldier;  and,  we  believe,  was 
promoted  to  corporal,  while  stationed  at  Plymouth. 

75.  GOODHTJE,  D.  W.,  Eochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in,  September  30th,  1864,  for  one  year. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

Joined  as  a  recruit,  November  9th,  1864,  at  Eoanoke 
Island. 

76.  GOULD,  WILLARD,   Moscow,  N.  Y. — Mustered  in, 
August  30th,  1862. 

Discharged,  by  reason  of  disability,  by  order  of  Major 
General  Dix,  August  20th,  1864,  at  General  Hospital, 
Newark,  N.  J. 

Think  he  was  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  find  his  present  address. 

77.  GRANT,  MuRRAY.^-Enlisted   at   Moscow,  August 
30th,  1862.  • 

Was  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  September  10th,  1862. 

Promoted  to  artificer.  The  southern  climate  did  not 
agree  with  him,  and  he  was  ailing  for  a  long  time. 

He  finally  died  at  Plymouth.  We  believe  his  remains 
were  embalmed  and  sent  home. 

78.  GREEN,  LAWRENCE,  Moscow. — Enlisted  for  three 
years,  January,  4th,  1864. 

Mustered  in  at  Canandaigua,  January  23d,  1864. 
Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 

1865. 


TWENTY-FOURTH   NEAV   YORK   BATTERY.  71 

Joined  April  20th,  1864,  at  mouth,  of  Koanoke  river, 
en  route  to  Plymouth.  A  good  soldier. 

79.  GRIFFITH,   CHAS.  E.,   Perry,   N.  Y.— Joined   for 
service,  October  1st,  1861. 

Ee-enlisted,  as  veteran,  January  1,  1864. 

Was  appointed  corporal  at  organization  of  the  Kocket 
Battalion,  at  Albany.  Was  promoted  to  sergeant, 
November  4th,  1862. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Florence, 
S.  C.  He  seemed  to  have  little  hope  after  his  capture, 
and  gave  himself  up  to  the  belief  that  he  should  never 
return  home  alive. 

80.  GRIFFITH,  ALBERT,  Perry. — Enlisted  August  27th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.  Was 
appointed  artificer,  November  4th,  1862. 

He  was  the  oldest  of  the  three  brothers.  Willis  had 
enlisted  first,  Charles  had  followed,  and  Albert  felt  that 
he  could  not  stay  at  home.  Therefore,  when  the  en 
thusiasm  of  the  enlisted  men,  in  the  tall  of  1862,  was  at 
its  height,  he  too  was  drawn  into  the  vortex,  and  joined 
the  common  cause  with  them.  While  we  were  erecting 
otir  sheds  and  barracks  in  New  Berne,  his  practical 
knowledge  of  building  was  invaluable  to  us.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  in  the  Anderson- 
ville  Stockade,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  July  9th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  3,101. 

81.  GRISEWOOD,  THOMAS,  Perry.— Enlisted  Nov.  22d, 


RECORDS    OF   THE 

1861.  In  company  with  the  Duryea  brothers,  he  de 
serted  from  the1  company  while  it  was  at  Washington  ; 
and  we  believe  he  never  returned  to  it.  "We  are  told  that 
he  is  in  California. 

82.  HART,  CHAS.— Joined  as  a  recruit  Oct.  12th,  1864, 
at  Eoanoke  Island.     No  muster  and  descriptive  roll  re 
ceived.     About  fifty  years  of  age.    Said  he  was  drugged 
and  taken  from  New  York  City  to  Hart  Island  in  August, 
1864.     Did  not  know  whether  he  volunteered  or  was  a 
substitute.     Never  received  any  bounty.     Was  a  man 
about  like  Geo.  McEwen,  only  faithful  and  orderly. 

83.  HARMON,  JOHN  C.,  Eochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in  for  one   year,  September  30th,  1864,  and 
joined  November  9th,  1864,  at  Eoanoke.     Transferred 
to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

84.  HARRINGTON,  M.— Joined  for  duty  November  9th, 
1861,  at  Clarkson. 

85.  HASTINGS,   FRED'K   E.,  Mt.  Morris,  N.   Y.— Was 
among  the  earliest  recruits  of  the  Battery.    Serving  as  a 

'private  for  many  months,  he  afterwards  received  promo 
tion  to  the  several  positions  of  sergeant,  second  and  first 
lieutenant. 

He  participated  in  the  battles  attending  the  first 
Goldsboro'  expedition,  and  was  always  ready  for  any 
mission  of  adventure  or  danger.  Fred's  easy  good  na 
ture,  and  ready  sympathies,  gave  him  the  key  to  the 
good  will  and  affection  of  the  Battery  boys.  He  cer 
tainly  ranked  the  associate  officers  in  popularity. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YOEK   BATTERY.  73 

In  February,  1864,  by  virtue  of  a  general  order  of  the 
War  Department,  applying  to  all  batteries  reduced  in 
numbers,  Lieut.  Dolbeer  and  he  were  mustered  out  as 
supernumerary  officers.  It  was  his  intention  to  recruit 
the  company  to  the  maximum  standard,  and  thereby  to 
secure  re-appointment.  This  design  was  defeated  by  the 
subsequent  capture  of  the  organization.  "  Lieut.  Fred" 
then  entered  upon  mercantile  pursuits  in  his  native  vil 
lage,  Mt.  Morris,  Livingston  County,  IS".  Y.  In  this  vo 
cation  he  has  had  remarkable  success. 

He  has  committed  matrimony. 

Those  who  recollect  his  rabid  political  tenets,  will  not 
be  surprised  to  learn  that  he  is  largely  responsible  for  a 
course  of  lectures  lately  delivered  in  Mt.  Morris,  by 
Fred'k  Douglas,  Theodore  Tilton,  Miss  Anna  Dick 
inson,  and  others,  cast  in  the  angular  mould  of  the  Rad 
ical  Republican.  Despite  of  his  extreme  political  con 
nections,  all  who  know  Fred  will  freely  applaud  and 
honor  his  sincerity.  In  the  hope  that  abundant  pros 
perity  may  attend  him,  we  leave  him  to  make  history. 

86.  HATHAWAY,  CHAS.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August  29th, 
1862.  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.  Was 
taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Andersonville 
Hospital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  June  12th.  The  number 
of  his  grave  is  1,891. 

Charley  was  one  of  those  who,  at  the  time  of  the  last 
accession  to  the  Battery,  had  made  up  their  minds  to 
enter  the  army ;  and  whether  they  went  with  the  Battery 
or  with  some  other  organization,  was  of  secondary  con 
sideration. 


^4  RECORDS   OF   THE 

He  made  a  good  soldier.  lie  had  entered  the  ranks 
with  the  right  spirit.  He  was  a  pacifier  at  our  outbursts 
of  impatience  and  resentment  at  supposed  wrongs. 

He  was  fond  of  the  good  things  of  this  world,  and 
none  appreciated  the  gifts  from  home  more  than  he ;  but 
he  was  always  ready  to  share  with  his  fellows. 

He  saw  but  little  of  the  sufferings  at  Andersonville, 
as  he  was  the  seventh  man  that  died  there.  He  had  suf 
fered  from  miasmatic  fever  at  Plymouth,  and  was  in  no 
condition  to  undergo  such  a  change  of  climate,  and  want 
of  proper  food. 

He  was  serene,  willing  and  prepared  to  die  ;  and  gave 
us  the  few  loving  words  to  his  parents  and  his  friends, 
with  the  calmness  of  one  who  felt  assured  of  a  heavenly 
home. 

87.  HINTON,  WM.  H.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in   October  1st,  1864,  for  one  year.     Joined 
November  9th,  1864,  at  Roanoke.    Transferred  to  Third 
New  York  Artillery,  May  25th,  1864.    Was  a  re-enlisted 
veteran,  having  served  in  the  two  year  enlistment  of 
1861,  in  infantry.     Good,  trusty  soldier. 

88.  HOLMAN,  GEORGE,  Hague,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  Sep 
tember  28th,  1861.     Re-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  January 
1st,  1864.    Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.    We  knew 
little  of  him  during  the  prison  experience.     He  lived 
through  it,  however,  and  we  find  him  reported  absent  at 
College  Green  Barracks,  Annapolis.     Rejoined,    an    ex 
changed  prisoner,  in  May,  1865,  looking  fat  and  healthy, 
and  cleaner  than  before  his  capture,  from  which  we  may 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  75 

infer  that  prison  life  improved  him.  lie  was  mustered 
out  at  Syracuse,  July  7th,  1864.  Was  married  after  his 
return  from  the  army,  and  now  lives  in  Albany. 

89.  HOLLTSTER,  BENJAMIN"  H. — After  writing  us  pleas 
ant  words  of  encouragement,  he  says  :  I  enlisted  the 
28th  of  August,  1862.  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  Septem 
ber  10th,  1862.  Was  in  battle  at  Plymouth,  K  C., 
April  18th,  1 9th  and  20th,  1864.  In  Andersonville  Prison 
from  May  1st  until  September  llth,  when  I  was  removed 
to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  taken  to  hospital  and  kept  there 
until  November  28th,  when  I  was  paroled  with  the  first 
ten  thousand  sick,  and  placed  on  board  the  U.  S.  Trans 
port  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  November  30th,  1864.  Arrived 
in  Annapolis,  December  4th.  Received  furlough  about 
the  20th,  for  thirty  days,  which  was  extended  to  thirty 
more.  I  then  reported  for  duty  at  the  U.  S.  G.  Hospital, 
and  in  consequence  of  going  on  duty  before  being  per 
fectly  recovered,  I  was  seized  with  typhoid  fever — was 
unconscious  thirty-one  days — was  then  sent  to  U.  S.  G. 
Hospital,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  from  here  I  was  dis 
charged,  May  23d,  1865. 

Present  residence,  Wells ville,  Alleghany  Co.,  N.  Y.— 
Occupation,  window-blind  manufacturer.  Married  here 
to  Miss  Alice  D.  Macken,  and  have  as  fine  a  young 
soldier  as  the  country  can  boast  of. 

90.  HOMAN,  CHARLES  H.,  Perry. — Enlisted,  August. 
Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

A  chronic  ailment  caused  his  name  to  be  placed  on 
the  invalid  list,  and  he  was  in  and  out  of  hospitals  until 


76  RECOEfrS   OF  THE 

we  reached  Plymouth.  He  writes  :  "  I  was  sent  to  New 
Berne,  to  the  general  hospital,  to  be  treated  for  the 
chronic  diarrhoea,  and  after  I  got  a  little  better,  I  was 
sent  to  the  head  surgeon,  who  examined  me,  and  his 
judgment  was  that  I  might  do  for  the  invalid  corps,  and 
so  I  was  sent  back  to  my  quarters,  and  in  a  short  time  I 
and  two  or  three  hundred  more,  were  sent  north,  to 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  to  be  treated  for  whatever  was  the 
matter  with  us.  I  got  a  little  better  here,  so  that  I  could 
get  out,  and  then  I  was  sent  up  to  the  head-quarters  again 
and  examined,  and  the  doctor  said  I  would  do  for  the 
second  corps  of  invalids,  and  so  in  I  went.  I  stayed  in 
this  some  time,  until  I  got  better,  and  then  I  was  ex 
amined  again,  and  transferred  to  the  first  corps,  and 
after  staying  here  some  time,  I  was  sent  down  to  Point 
Lookout,  Md.,  to  guard  rebel  prisoners.  The  prisoners 
sent  here  to  Point  Lookout,  fared  as  well  as  our  own 
boys  did.  I  stayed  here  until  Grant  compelled  Lee  to 
surrender,  and  in  a  short  time  I  was  sent  to  Albany,  N. 
Y.,  and  mustered  out  of  the  service,  after  the  war  closed." 
He  subsequently  adds :  "  I  was  transferred  to  the 
second  battalion  of  the  veteran  reserve  corps,  on  the  7th 
July,  1864,  and  then  sent  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  some 
time  in  the  winter  of  1865,  (January  or  February)  I 
was  transferred  to  the  first  battalion,  Eleventh  Eegt.,  Co. 
G.,  Captain  Benson  Brown,  and  in  March  was  sent  to 
Point  Lookout,  stayed  there  until  sent  to  Albany,  and  dis 
charged,  June  29th,  and  received  my  pay  on  the  7th  July, 
1865,  and  went  home.  Making  two  years,  ten  months 

O  «/ 

and  some  days,  that  I  was  in  the  army.  " 
Present  address — Perry,  N.  Y. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  77 

91.  HORTOX,  CHARLES,  Albany,  K  Y.— Enlisted  and 
mustered  in  for  one  year,  September  15th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 
Joined  at  Koanoke,  October  12th,  1864. 

92.  HOSFORD,  WM.  F.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August  29th, 
1862.     Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1863. 

At  the  time  of  his  enlistment  he  was  a  student  at  Perry 
Academy.  His  peculiar  tenacity  for  correctness,  his  taste 
for  thorough  investigation  and  research,  his  flat  refusals 
to  believe  anything  that  could  not  be  historically  or 
logically  proven,  gave  him  promise  of  a  rank  among  the 
best  of  scholars.  He  carried  his  love  of  study  with 
him  into  the  army,  and  paid  but  little  attention  to 
anything  but  his  books  and  his  duties.  He  was  a 
consoler  in  time  of  trouble,  and  a  popular  prophet,  inas 
much  as  wisdom  of  mind  is  supposed  to  accompany  wisdom 
of  speech. 

He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  We  believe  that 
just  before  his  capture,  he  was  promoted  corporal, 

During  his  prison  life,  he  was  buoyant  and  hopeful. 
On  account  of  such  a  spirit,  we  thought,  and  yet  think, 
that  he  would  have  endured  to  the  end  the  treatment 
that  was  there  received.  But  he  was  seized  with  malig 
nant  typhoid  fever,  and  although  we  had  him  removed 
to  the  hospital,  and  did  all  in  our  power  to  save  him,  he 
died,  June  24th,  1864,  a  few  days  after  the  disease  made 
its  appearance. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  2,445. 


78  RECORDS    OF    THE 

93.  HOYT,  WILBUR  M.,  Brooks  Grove. — Enlisted  Au 
gust  29th,  1862. 

Mustered  in,  August  30th,  18G2. 

No  nobler  soldier  served  his  country  for  his  country's 
good.  A  man  of  line  physical  proportions,  of  sound 
morals  and  integrity,  and  of  strong  religious  tendencies. 
He  had  prepared  himself  to  fill  the  role  allotted  to  him  : 
to  fight  and  to  die,  with  courage  and  with  calmness. 
During  the  early  part  of  the  attack  on  Plymouth,  his 
piece  was  ordered  into  action,  at  the  first  embrazure,  at 
the  right  of  the  large  house,  used  as  the  Battery  barracks. 
Iloyt  was  No.  1  (that  is  the  man  using  the  rammer  and 
swab).  The  piece  had  been  firing  some  little  time,  when 
they  commenced  to  fire  more  rapidly.  As  he  was 
"  ramming  a  shell  home,  "  ~No.  5,  (whose  duty  it  wras  to 
keep  the  vent  hole  covered)  became  excited,  and  in 
turning  round  to  give  some  instruction  concerning  the 
ammunition,  he  uncovered  the  vent.  A  premature  dis 
charge  immediately  followed,  and  rammer,  shell  and  all, 
went  through  the  arms  of  Hoyt.  One  arm  was  shot  off, 
the  other  shattered,  and  his  face  and  body  blackened 
skin  deep  with  the  burnt  powder.  Captain  Cady  stand 
ing  near,  was  so  deafened,  that  for  a  day  or  two,  it  was 
almost  impossible  for  him  to  hear  anything.  One  or  two 
others  were  slightly  injured.  Hoyt  fell  back,  but  was 
not  satisfied  to  be  taken  away  until  he  saw  his  post  filled 
and  his  piece  at  work. 

He  was  removed  to  the  hospital,  and  there,  where 
many  were  shrieking  with  slight  wounds,  he  endeavored 
to  quiet  them,  and  then  urge  them  to  the  consideration  of 
death,  in  a  Christian's  view,  with  resignation,  hope  ancj 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  79 

faith.  Not  a  groan,  not  a  murmur  escaped  his  lips.  He 
had  loved  his  country,  he  had  served  his  country,  and 
he  was  willing  to  die  for  his  country. 

The  physicians  were  very  kind  to  him.  The  nurses 
looked  upon  his  courage  with  wonder.  Everything  was 
done  for  him  that  could  be  done.  He  lingered  along, 
until  after  we  had  surrendered.  A  few  wounded  were 
left  with  him,  while  we  were  marched  off.  He  died, 
April  26th,  1864 

Was  buried  on  a  vacant  lot  west  of  the  building  occu 
pied  as  the  hospital  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment,  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  overlooking  the  river.  While  in  the 
quartermaster's  department,  at  Roanoke,  Lieut.  Camp  had 
head  boards  made,  and  after  the  recapture  of  Plymouth, 
by  our  forces,  Stoddard  had  them  erected  over  his  grave. 

94.  HUBBARD,  H.— Joined  for  duty,  Nov.  16th,  1861, 
at  Ticonderoga. 

95.  HUGHSON,  WALLACE  E.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
and  mustered  in,  for  one  year,  Oct.  1st,  1864,  and  joined 
November  9th,  1864,  at  Roanoke.     Transferred  to  Third 
N.  Y.  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.     From  Hamlin,  K  Y., 
was  a  relative  of  Rufus   Ainsworth,  and  a  re-enlisted 
veteran,  having  served  two  years  on  enlistment  in  1861. 

96.  HUMPHREY,  ARTHUR,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. — En 
listed,  for  one  year,  September  22d,  1864.     Joined  at 
Roanoke,  October  12th,  1864.  Transferred  to  Third  K  Y. 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

97.  HUMPHREY,  CHAS.?  Kingston,  K  Y. — Enlisted  and 


80  RECORDS    OF   THE 

mustered  in,  for  one  year,  September  29th,  1864.  Joined 
October  12th,  1864,  at  Koanoke.  Transferred  to  Third 
N.  Y.  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

98.  HUNTER,  EDWIN   H.   JR.,  New  York. — Enlisted 
February  18th,   1862.      He  was  promoted  corporal   by 
Captain  Lee,  and  on  the  14th  April,  1862,  was  promoted 
sergeant.      He  was  very  retired,  but  much  liked  by  all. 
While  we  were  stationed  at  ~New  Berne,  he  was  greatly 
shocked  by  reading  in  the  New  York  paper  of  the  mur 
der  of  his  mother,  by  the  hand  of  his  father.     During  a 
storm  of  anger,  the  father  had  buried  a  hatchet  in  the 
mother's  skull.     He  was  fuiioughed,  and  came  to  New 
York  during  the  trial.    He  returned  to  the  Battery,  but, 
of  course,  quite  changed.     He  often-  expressed  the  de 
pression    and  the   degradation   that   he  felt.      He   was 
generally  and   deeply   sympathized   with,    and,  to  our 
knowledge,  he  was    very  grateful   for  the   many  kind 
words  and  kind  acts  tendered  him.     At  Plymouth  he 
was  ailing  from  the  effects  of  "  chills  and  fever,"  and 
suffered  quite  severely  from  that  complaint,  during  the 
last  two  days  of  the  battle.     He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
died  at  Andersonville  Hospital,  of  typhoid  fever,  July 
15th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  3,365. 

99.  HURLBURT,  E.  T.  M. — He  writes  : — "  I  enlisted  in 
Perry,  August  29th,   1862.     Mustered   in  at   Buffalo, 
August  30th,  1862.     Mustered  out  in  New  Berne,  May 
23d,  1865.     I  was  in  the  battle  of  New  Berne,  on  the 
anniversary  of  the  capture  of  that  city  by  Burnside,  and 


TWENTY-FOURTH     NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  81 

in  the  terrible  battle  of  Foster's  Mills,  and  did  as  much 
retreating  as  any  of  them.  I  was  not  taken  prisoner.  I 
did  not  re-enlist.  I  was  detailed  as  clerk  in  the  engineer's 
office  at  New  Berne,  nine  days  before  the  battle  of 
Plymouth,  when  our  boys  were  taken  prisoners,  which 
detail  saved  me,  probably,  from  a  prisoner's  death.  I 
was  promoted  to  corporal  in  October,  1862,  at  Newport 
Barracks.  I  was  again  detailed  as  apothecary,  in  Beau 
fort  General  Hospital,  in  July,  1864.  While  on  this 
duty,  was  placed  in  medical  charge  of  Refugee  Camp,  at 
Beaufort,  and  after  acting  in  the  capacity  of  apothecary 
and  assistant-surgeon,  for  five  months,  was  ordered  to 
Mansfield  General  Hospital,  at  Morehead  City,  as  a 
patient,  but  was  soon  ordered  on  duty  as  acting-assist 
ant  surgeon,  by  Surgeon  Palmer,  then  in  charge  of 
hospital,  in  which  capacity  I  continued  to  act  until  I 
received  my  discharge ;  the  most  of  the  time  having  charge 
of  the  bedded  patients,  though  a  private,  for  which  ser 
vice  I  received  a  document  stating  the  above  facts, 
signed  by  Surgeon  J.  C.  Salter  (in  charge),  endorsed 
by  Surgeon  D.  W.  Hand,  in  charge  of  Medical  Depart 
ment  of  N".  C.  At  one  time  I  had  charge  of  the  sick 
ward,  while  four,  wearing  shoulder-straps,  were  doctoring 
convalescents.  This  document  also  states  that  I,  at  one 
time,  had  charge  of  the  General  Hospital,  but  it  was  by 
default  of  Dr.  Mudie,  then  by  authority  in  charge. 

"  After  receiving  my  discharge,  I  graduated  at  Buffalo 
Medical  College,  practiced  medicine  one  year,  at  Ridge- 
way,  X.  Y.,  came  to  Hannibal,  opened  an  office,  July 
12th,  1867,  and  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
my  choice  of  vocation  and  location," 
6 


82  RECORDS    OF    THE 

100.  JACKSON,   DANIEL,  Leroy,   N.  Y. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in,  September  1st,  1864,  for  three  years. 

En  route  to  join  the  Battery,  he  jumped  overboard  the 
transport,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  deserted.  For  further, 
particulars,  see  Henry  Raymond. 

101.  JOHNSON,  GEORGE  B..  Perry. — Enlisted  October 
1,  1861.     Was  promoted  corporal.     Was  taken  prisoner 
at  Plymouth. 

Johnson  was  a  man  quite  advanced  in  age.  He  was 
intellectually  and  argumentatively  strong.  He  was  no 
tably  radical  in  his  feelings  and  in  his  speech.  While 
we  were  in  garrison  he  perused  the  newspapers  with 
eagerness  and  thoroughness,  and  few  in  the  Battery  were 
possessed  of  as  much  knowledge  concerning  the  war  as 
he.  Politics  were  his  favorite  theme;  though,  during 
his  imprisonment,  his  mind  was  called  more  to  the  Bible  ; 
and  his  conversations  with  his  comrades  indicated  that 
that  Book  had  received  a  great  deal  of  study  and  atten 
tion  from  him. 

He  was  sent  from  the  stockade  at  Anderson ville  to  the 
hospital,  to  do  police  duty.  Gradually,  however,  he  suc 
cumbed  to. that  dread  malady,  chronic  diarrhoea.  He 
saw  that  lie  was  declining — made  Jiis  will,  and  a  disposi 
tion  of  the  few  things  he  possessed — and  prepared  him 
self  for  the  great  change. 

He  died  Sept.  21st,  1864.  The  number  of  his  grave 
is  9,495. 

102.  KEENEY,  GEORGE  W.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August 
29th,  1862.   Mustered  in,  August  30th,  1862,  at  Buffalo. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  83 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Anderson- 
ville,  May  20th,  186tt.  The  number  of  his  grave  is  1,250. 

He  was  the  second  member  of  the  Battery  who  was 
sacrificed  at  that  unholy  altar.  His  life  had  been  un 
usually  free  from  immoderate  and  exceptional  habits  ;  his 
mind  was  pure,  and  his  heart  kind. 

The  circumstances  of  his  death  were  peculiar.  He 
was  taken  ill  with  diarrhoea  soon  after  we  had  entered 
the  stockade.  The  surgeon  prescribed  an  opiate,  with 
directions,  if  he  was  no  better  after  a  reasonable  time,  to 
administer  a  second  dose.  , 

The  man  acting  as  nurse  failed  either  to  understand 
or  to  comprehend  the  surgeon's  orders,  and  while  George 
was  still  quiet,  and  under  the  effects  of  the  opiate,  the 
man  gave  him  an  additional  quantity.  George  never 
woke  from  his  first  sleep.  His  sister,  Kate  R.  Keeney, 
has  dedicated  the  following  lines  to  his  memory : 

"  In  iflflemorfam." 

Darling,  laid  low  in  that  sunny  land, 

In  the  sleep  which  knows  no  waking, 
From  thy  soul's  high  home,  canst  thou  understand 

How  our  hearts  are  almost  breaking? 

A  year  this  morn,  'ere  the  sun's  first  beams 

Bathed  in  light  that  Southern  prison, 
Thy  spirit,  borne  from  its  fever'd  dreams, 

To  a  holier  life  had  risen. 

Thy  place  of  rest  we  may  not  see — 

Oh,  God !  thy  aid  not  scorning ; 
We  leave  our  darling  one  with  Thee, 

'Till  the  Resurrection  morning, 


84  RECORDS    OF    THE 

Peace's  dewy  wings  again  are  cast 

O'er  our  tried,  our  suffering  nation ; 
And  those  must  be  forgotten  last, 

Who  died  for  her  salvation. 

Spring  came  again,  and  the  soft  winds  sighed 

To  the  buds,  and  the  springing  clover  ; 
When  an  angel  came  from  "the  other  side," 

And  beckoned  our  mother  "over." 

Ye  are  gathered  home,  our  loved  and  lost ; — 

And  I  stand  without  a  shiver, 
And  think,  as  I  look  where  the  dear  ones  crossed, 

How  little  way  'tis  o'er  the  "  River." 

The  birds  sing  sweet  in  the  homeside  trees, 
And  the  flowers  smile  up  to  their  "keepers," 

But  our  hearts  ache  on  in  hours  like  these, 
As  we  think  of  our  household  '"sleepers." 

Though  my  bark  sails  on  to  "  the  unknown  sea," 

With  dirge-like  gales  to  waft  her, 
Mother  and  Brother  are  waiting  for  me, 

In  the  land  of  the  "  hereafter." 
HILLSIDE  HOME,  May  20th,  1865. 

103.  KEITH,  G.  H.,  Albany. — Enlisted  November 
16th,  1861.  Promoted  corporal.  He  died  at  Newport 
Barracks,  November  2d,  1862.  We  find  the  following 
account  in  the  correspondence  of  the  "  Wyoming  Times" 
dated  November  21st,  1862. 

"  Yesterday  (Sunday)  morning,  a  gloom  pervaded  our  camp,  occa 
sioned  by  the  death  of  one  of  the  members  of  our  company. 

"  His  name  was  G.  Harrison  Keith.  He  belonged  to  the  older  por 
tion  of  the  company,  having  joined  with  them  at  Albany.  His  resi 
dence  was  in  Johnstown,  Fulton  County.  He  was  young  and  active, 
held  the  position  of  corporal,  and  was  deservedly  popular.  He  died 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  85 

rather  suddenly.  He  had  been  severely  sick  with  billions  typhoid 
fever,  but  the  day  previous  to  his  death  was  said  to  be  improving 
rapidly.  Funeral  service  was  held  in  the  afternoon  at  the  chapel,  and 
his  body,  followed  by  the  whole  company,  was  carried  to  Newport  and 
buried  with  all  becoming  ceremony.  This  is  the  first  death  that  has 
occurred  since  our  arrival.  The  slow  moving  ambulance,  the  solemn 
procession  winding  its  way  through  the  narrow,  woody  road,  the  pines 
murmuring  a  funeral  dirge  as  we  passed  under  their  branches,  all 
combined,  must  have  made  even  the  most  reckless  reflect  upon  the 
brevity  of  life,  the  certainty  of  death,  and  the  necessity  of  a  prepara 
tion  to  meet  it." 

104.  KELLOGG,    G    W.,   New    York. — Enlisted   and 
mustered  in,  November  13th,  1861.    Promoted  corporal 
by  Capt.  Lee.     Acted  as  quartermaster  for  a  short  time 
at  New  Berne.     Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  at  Plymouth, 
January   2d,    1864.     Mustered   out   of  the   Battery  at 
Plymouth,   on   account  of  promotion,  in   April,   1864. 
Promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  Third  New  York  Inde 
pendent  Battery,  January  8th,  1863.     Promoted  to  first 
lieutenant,  October  31st,  1864. 

Was  in  all  the  battles,  under  Grant,  in  Virginia, 
including  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
Cold  Harbor  and  the  taking  of  Richmond. 

Is  married,  and  now  lives  in  New  Jerse.y. 

105.  KETCHUM,  RICHMOND  A. — Enlisted  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  September  30th,  1864,  for  three  years,  and  joined 
at  Roanoke,  November  9th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

106.  KING,  SYLVANUS. — Joined  for  duty  from  Hainlin, 
N.  Y.,  October  15th,  1861.     Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  at 
Plymouth,  in  January,  1864.     Was  taken  prisoner  at 


86  RECORDS  OF 

Plymouth,  and  died  at   Andersonville,   September  14th, 
1864,  of  scorbutis.     The  number  of  his  grave  is  8,738. 

107.  KNOWLDEN,  HENRY  C.,  New  York. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in,  April  12th,  1804,  for  three  years. 

Transferred  to  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  May  25th,  1865. 

108.  LAPHAM,   LEDRA  II.,  Moscow,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
August  29th,  1862.    Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th, 
1862.     Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth. 

It  was  a  great  sacrifice  for  Newton  and  the  Lapham 
brothers  to  give  up  a  lucrative  business,  pleasant  homes 
and  flattering  prospects  to  enter  the  army  ;  and  yet,  full 
of  the  fire  of  loyalty,  they  did  it. 

Ledra  Lapham  was  not  a  strong  man.  A  portion  of 
the  time,  while  in  garrison,  he  seemed  greatly  improved, 
and,  even  while  at  Andersonville,  he  evinced  that  won 
derful  tenacity  for  life  which  we  are  always  astonished 
to  see  in  those  whom  we  have  been  accustomed  to  look 
upon  as  feeble  and  delicate.  He  endured  prison  expe 
rience  with  but  little  complaint  or  fretful  ness,  while  many 
stronger  ones  were  uselessly  querulous  and  disagreeable. 

Newton  and  he  were  together  in  the  hospital.  It  is 
quite  noticeable  that  they  should  have  been  so  much 
together,  and  finally  died  within  a  few  days  of  each 
other. 

Lapham  died  August  5th,  1864,  of  chronic  diarrhoea. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  4,871. 

109.  LAPHAM,    HORACE,    Moscow,    N.    Y. — Enlisted 
August  29th,  1862.  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th, 
1862.    Was  a  brother  of  Ledra  Lapham. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  87 

Against  his  wishes,  he  was  discharged  from  the  ser 
vice  for  physical  inability.  He  now  resides  in  Genesee, 
Livingston  County,  N.  Y. 

110.  LAWLER,  E.,  Hamlin,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  duty, 
October  21st,  1861. 

Nothing  more  is  known  about  him. 

111.  LEE,  ABEAM,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  October  3d, 

1861.  He  re-enlisted  a?  a  veteran,  January  1st,  1864,  at 
Plymouth.  Was  taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  Anderson  ville. 

He  died  at  Andersonville  Hospital  of  chronic  diar 
rhoea,  June  14th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  1,944. 

112.  LENT,    ABEAM,  Perry. — Enlisted   August   29th, 

1862.  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.    Was 
taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Andersonville 
Hospital  of  pneumonia,  June  29th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  2,686. 

Abe  Lent  was  long  and  familiarly  known  to  the  citi 
zens  of  Perry.  Most  of  us  who  enlisted  at  that  time 
knew  him  well,  and  we  recollect  that  many  suspected 
that  he  was  up  to  some  of  his  shrewd  tricks,  and  did  not 
intend  really  to  go  with  us.  When  we  were  placed  in 
rank,  in  the  room  of  the  mustering  officer  at  Buffalo,  Abe  f 
refused  for  some  time  to  raise  his  hand  and  take  the 
oath.  He,  however,  yielded  to  the  persuasions  of  his 
friends,  and  was  sworn.  Many  attributed  his  conduct  to 
an  unwillingness  to  go,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think  that 
he  stated  his  true  reason,  which  was,  that  in  his  opinion 


88 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


Hastings  should  have  been  sworn  in  with  the  rest,  to 
carry  out  the  understanding  among  the  boys  at  the  time 
of  the  enlistment.  He  did  not  understand  that  Hastings 
was  to  be  mustered  in  as  a  commissioned  officer  at 
Albany.  Familiar  with  bookkeeping  and  reports,  he 
made  himself  quite  useful  at  the  battery  headquarters  at 
that  kind  of  labor.  During  the  latter  part  of  our  stay 
in  Plymouth,  however,  he  took  a  post  at  the  piece,  and 
worked  well.  Abe  was  very  fond  of  spending  an  even 
ing  reviewing  and  rehearsing  the  acts  and  sports  of  the 
men  of  Perry  who  used  to  be  his  chums.  He  was  hap 
piest  when  he  could  tell  us  his  stories  of  the  political  and 
other  intrigues  and  maneuvers  that  he  had  been  cognizant 
of,  while  others  were  in  ignorance  and  blindness,  and  he 
chuckling  to  himself  as  he  heard  their  innocent  remarks 
and  saw  their  unsuccessful  tactics.  Even  in  prison  life, 
a  retrospect  of  the  past  was  his  habitual  resort  for 
passing  the  time  pleasantly.  When  he  was  sent  to 
the  hospital,  he  was  very  low,  but  he  recognized  his 
friends.  He  failed  rapidly,  and  became  delirious  and 
insensible. 

He  died  in  unconsciousness. 


113.  LEONARD,  FRANCIS,  Albany. — Enlisted  November 

«.  16th,  1861.     Was  appointed  corporal  at  the  time  of  the 

4  organization  of  Battery  "  B  "  of  the  Rocket  Battalion. 

Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at 

Plymouth.     Was  exchanged  and  joined  for  duty  again 

April  27th,  1865.     He  joined  the  Company  at  Coanjock 

Bridge  early  in  May,  1865,  looking  fat  and  healthy,  a 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  89 

neat,  tidy  soldier.    He  was  married  after  he  left  the  ser 
vice,  and  now  lives  at  Albany,  New  York. 

114.  LLOYD,  H.  P. — He  writes  :  "I  enlisted  at  Angelica, 
New  York,  August  25th,  1 862.  Was  mustered  in  at  Buf 
falo,  September  5th,  1862.  Was  mustered  out  of  the 
Battery,  March  llth,  1864,  at  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  to  accept 
promotion  in  the  Twenty-second  New  York  Cavalry. 
Was  not  captured,  but  was  in  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
when  some  of  the  men  were  returned  from  Anderson ville 
and  Florence.  Saw  Sam  and  William  Nichols — both 
in  a  very  reduced  state — unable  to  sit  up.  Conversed 
with  them,  and  did  what  I  could  to  relieve  them. 

"  John  Russell  and  Carnahan  were  there  also.  Some 
others  were  there,  but  I  was  not  able  to  see  them  person 
ally.  I  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  October  10th,  1862, 
and  was  promoted  to  first  sergeant  in  December,  1862, 
or  January,  1863.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1864,  I  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  the  Twenty-second  New 
York  Cavalry,  by  Governor  Seymour.  On  the  13th 
of  July,  1864,  I  was  commissioned  captain  by  the  same. 

"  On  the  24th  of  January,  1865,  I  was  commissioned  as 
major  in  the  same  regiment,  by  Governor  Fenton. 

"  On  the  13th  of  March,  I  was  brevetted  by  the  Presi 
dent  for  '  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct '  and  was 
recommended  for  brevets  three  other  times  by  the  Corps 
Commanders. 

"  I  was  detailed  as  a  member  of  a  Military  Court  of  In 
quiry,  and  as  a  member  of  two  different  Courts  Martial, 
at  Winchester,  Ya.  in  the  winter  of  1864  and  1865.  In 
February,  1865,  I  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  on  the 


90  RECORDS    OF    THE 

staff  of  Major-General  William  Wells,  and  served  in  his 
staff  until  active  hostilities  ceased.  In  April,  1865,  I 
was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  as  Commissary 
of  Musters  for  the  Cavalry  Corps  of  the  army  of  the 
Shenandoah,  and  I  served  in  this  capacity  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Lorbert  and  Gen.  Keno,  until  Aug.  1st,  1865,  when 
I  rejoined  my  regiment  and  was  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Eochester,  K  Y.,  Aug.  8th,  1865. 

"  I  was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  under  Grant,  until  Aug.  1864,  when  our  divi 
sion  of  the  Cavalry  Corps  was  sent  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  under  Sheridan. 

"  On  the  21st  August,  1864,  at  Smithfield,  Ya.,  I  re 
ceived  a  severe  gun-shot  wound  through  the  body  and 
right  lung,  and  narrowly  escaped  capture." 

Lloyd  is  one  of  the  active  members  and  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Cincinnati. 

He  has  built  up  a  lucrative  and  successful  law  practice. 

Married  June  16th,  1869,  to  Miss  Hattie  G.  Kaymond, 
daughter  of  John  H.  Raymond,  L.L.D.,  President  of 
Yassar  College. 

Present  address,  Cincinnati,  O. 

115.  LOOMIS,  HIRAM,  Mt.  Morris,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  at 
Perry  on  the  29th  of  August,  1862,  was  mustered  in  at 
Buffalo  on  the  30th.  Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth, 
April  20th,  1864. 

Was  at  the  Anderson  ville,  Florence  and  Charleston 
prisons.  He  says  :  "  After  I  had  been  in  Andersonville 
about  five  months  it  was  thought  that  Sherman  was  about 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  1 

to  invade  the  portion  of  the  State  in  which  the  prison 
was  located,  so  they  removed  us  to  Charleston  and  from 
thence  to  Florence. 

"  When  I  went  to  Anderson  ville,  I  was  sick  and  could 
scarcely  keep  my  place  in  the  ranks,  but  with  Wirz  at 
my  back  with  a  revolver  pointed  at  me,  I  felt  called 
upon  to  put  forth  every  possible  effort. 

"  Was  at  Florence  three  months. 

"  Was  exchanged  at  Charleston,  Dec.  10th,  1864.  Was 
afterwards  detailed  as  orderly  in  the  Navy  Yard.  Mus 
tered  out  June  28th,  1865. 

"  Was  married  to  Miss  Annie  W.  Sweetman  of  Mt. 
Morris,  N.  Y.,  October  25th,  1865." 

Has  been,  since  he  left  the  army,  quite  successful  in 
the  cabinet  business,  at  Pioneer,  Williams  Co.,  Ohio. 

116.  Me  GLAIR,  JERRY. — Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  Sep 
tember  30th,  1862.  Was  promoted  to  corporal.    Interested 
himself  in    the  recruiting  of   negroes,  and   we   believe 
received  a  lieutenant's  commission  in  a  colored  regiment. 
We  never  received  a  reply  to  our  communication  to  him. 
Have   heard   that  after   the    close  of  the   war   he  was 
interested  with  Lieutenant  Camp,  in  business  in  North 
Carolina.      Gave  that  up,  returned  to  Moscow,  and  was 
married.     Settled  for  a  short  time  in  Moscow,  and  has 
now  returned  to  the  south  again. 

117.  McCRARY,  ORRIN  S.,  Mount    Morris. — Enlisted 
September  9th,  1£62. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and,  as  we  are  in 
formed  by  Ferguson,  died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  in  the  Fall 
of  1864.  ' 


RECORDS    OF    THE 

Of  the  three  McCrary  brothers  who  started  out  with 
us  in  the  Fall  of  1862,  Charles  only  remains. 

Orrin  was  a  sprightly,  affable  fellow,  ready  to  do  and 
to  say  anything  to  please.  As  a  prisoner,  he  had  little 
to  complain  of,  and  cheerfully  looked  forward  to  deliver 
ance.  But  the  lingering,  sickening  delay  overpowered 
him,  and  he  too  fell,  with  the  thousands  of  others  that 
could  no  longer  endure  their  prison  tortures. 

118.  MCCRARY,  WM.  A.,   Mount    Morris. — Enlisted 
August  29th,  1862.      Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,    August 
30th,  1862.    Promoted  corporal,  November  4th,  1862. 

While  at  New  Berne,  he  was  attacked  with  chronic 
diarrhoea,  and  never  fully  recovered.  He  died  of  that 
disease,  August  14th,  1863. 

His  body  was  embalmed  and  brought  North  for  inter 
ment.  He  was  in  so  little  active  duty  with  us,  that  he 
had  no  opportunity  for  displaying  his  qualities  as  a  sol 
dier.  His  death  was  regretted  and  felt  by  all  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Battery. 

119.  McCRARY,  CHARLES,  Mount  Morris — the  third  of 
the  three  brothers. — Enlisted  August  28th,  1862,   and 
was  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,   1862.     Was 
discharged  on  account   of  physical  inability.     Present 
address,  Wellsville,  N".  Y. 

120.  McCRiNK,  JOHN,    Perry. — Enlisted  August  28th, 
1862.      Mustered   in   at   Buffalo,    August   30th,   1862. 
Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and    died   at   Ander- 
sonville  Hospital,    of  chronic   diarrhoea,  August    19th, 
1864.     The  number  of  his  grave  is  6,203. 


• 

TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  93 

John's  tongue  wagged  ceaselessly.  His  body  might 
be  wearied,  his  spirits  subdued,  but  his  tongue  never 
cared  for  rest.  He  was  pretty  well  advanced  in  years ; 
had  had  a  good  deal  of  experience  as  a  traveler,  and  his 
stock  of  stories  was  krge  ;  and  if  they  needed  a  little  burn 
ishing,  he  had  quite  a  faculty  for  inventing  additional  oc 
currences  which  should  keep  up  the  interest  of  his  hearers. 

In  prison  he  kept  up  good  spirits  ;  and  if  a  body  was 
not  too  dejected,  an  hour's  interview  with  him  was  a 
relief  from  the  more  sedate  and  quiet  comrades. 

After  he  reached  the  hospital,  he  became  greatly 
alarmed,  as  he  realized  that  death  was  approaching. 
Several  nights  in  succession  we  were  roused  at  midnight 
by  a  message  from  him  that  he  was  dying,  yet  he  lingered 
along  for  some  time.  In  the  daytime  he  would  seem  to 
be  improving,  and  at  night  would  fail.  We  managed  at 
last  to  obtain  a  Roman  Catholic  priest,  who  made  him  a 
visit,  and  the  comforting  assurances  which  John  received 
from  him  seemed  to  quiet  his  alarm,  and  he  died,  being 
himself  hardly  aware  that  he  was  breathing  his  last. 

121.  McCRiNK,   JAMES,   Perry. — Enlisted   December 
22d,  1863.     He   reached   Plymouth  just  in  time  to  be 
taken  prisoner. 

We  are  unable  to  trace  him  any  further,  but  it  is  sup 
posed  that  he  died  in  prison. 

122.  McDoxALD,  ARCHIBALD,  New  York. — Enlisted 
November  26th,  1861.     Re-enlisted   as  a  veteran,  Janu 
ary  1st,   1864.     At  one  time  acted  as  orderly  sergeant. 
Was  promoted  corporal  in  1864. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Ander- 


• 

94  RECORDS    OF   THE 

sonville  Hospital,  of  typhoid  fever,  September  15th, 
1864.  The  number  of  his  grave  is  8,969. 

lie  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  a  will  ins;  worker,  a 

O 

radical  thinker  and  a  plain  speaker,  yet  a  practical  pro 
moter  of  obeyance  to  orders  and  strict  discipline.  To  the 
oldest  portion  of  the  Battery  he  was  best  known,  and  was 
quite  popular  with  them. 

123.  McEwEN,    GEORGE  "W".,    Ticoiideroga. — Joined 
for  duty  October  2d,  1861.     He  was  in  poor  health  most 
of  the  time,  and  we  conclude,  as  his  name  cannot  be  found 
on  the  later  muster  rolls,  that  he  was  discharged  from 
some  of  the  hospitals.    Re-enlisted,  as  a  veteran  volunteer, 
at   Plymouth,   January  1st,    1864,.      Received   veteran 
furlough  and  never  returned  to  his  company.    Had  charge 
of  the  cook  house  when  we  first  enlisted  the  two  colored 
cooks,  allowed  by  law  (George  and  Nelson). 

Little  Pete  coming  up  to  the  quarters,  one  day,  sung 
out  to  McEwen — "  Ho  !  Mack,  the  boys  go  back  on  your 
nigger  cooks,  ha,  ha  ;  dats  too  bad,  ha,  ha."  Mack  replied, 
"  O,  you  d — d  black  imp,  what  you  talking  about" — at  the 
same  time  picking  up  a  stone  to  throw.  Pete  replied,  "  Oh, 
Mack,  oh,  Mack,  I  didn't  mean  nothing,  the're  all  right. 
I'd  just  as  leave  eat  after  their  cooking  as  after  yours." 

124.  McGuiRE,  THOMAS,  Gainsville,  K  Y. — Joined  for 
duty,  October  1st,   1861.     Re-enlisted,  as  a  veteran,  in 
January,  1864. 

"Was  taken  sick  while  on  his  veteran  furlough,  and 
arrived  at  Roanoke  Island,  April  20th,  1864,  just  after 
Plymouth  was  captured.  He  remained  with  the  remnant 
of  the  Battery  until  it  was  mustered  out  in  Syracuse. 

Present  address,  Gainsville,  N.  Y. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  95 

125.  McGuiRE,  JAMES,  Gainsville,  N.  Y. — A  brother 
of  Thomas  ;  joined  for  duty,  February  24th,  1864. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  April  20th,  1864. 

126.  McGuiRB,  MICHAEL.— Enlisted  March  21st,  1864, 
at  Gainsville,  X.  Y.,  for  three  years  ;  joined  April  20th, 
1864 ;  died  at  hospital,  on  Roanoke  Island,  August,  1864, 
of  acute  dysentery.     Is  buried  near  the  hospital  (brother 
of  Thomas  McGuire). 

127.  MciN"iNCH,  HENRY,  Moscow. — Enlisted  December 
19th,  1863. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  is  reported  by 
Newcomb  to  have  died  at  Florence. 

He  was  one  of  the  last  recruits  before  the  battle  of 
Plymouth,  and  we  do  not  know  much  about  his  move 
ments  after  he  reached  Andersonville,  as  we  had  little 
acquaintance  with  him. 

128.  McVEY,  JAMES. — Mustered  in  about  Sept.  30th, 
1862. 

McVey  was  one  of  the  young  men  that  volunteered 
from  Hamilton  College,  at  the  time  George  Hastings 
joined  the  Battery.  He  was  a  restless  fellow,  and  felt 
the  restraint  of  army  discipline  severely.  On  this 
account  he  made  a  poor  soldier.  He  was  talented,  had 
a  keen  sense  of  honor,  and  to  our  thinking,  too  high  an 
appreciation  of  caste.  After  a  little  time  he  was  put  on 
detailed  service,  in  the  General  Department,  at  New 
Berne.  Was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant's  commission  in 
the  Third  New  York  Artillery.  Was  aid-de-camp  on 
General  Peck's  Staff.  Came  with  General  Peck  to 


96  RECORDS    OF    THE 

New  York  City,  and  remained  on  his  staff  while  he  had 
command  of  that  department.  He  was  there  mustered 
out  of  service.  We  have  been  told  that  he  returned  to  his 
home,  in  the  interior  of  New  York  State,  and  died  there. 

129.  MAREAN,  CHARLES  A.,  Moscow. — Enlisted  Au 
gust  28th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  April  30th,  1862. 

He  was  quick  and  impulsive  in  his  enlistment. 

As  he  was  quite  young  and  inexperienced,  he  could 
hardly  realize  his  undertaking ;  yet,  in  actual  experience 
he  proved  himself  steady  and  capable.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  we  are  informed  by  Fergu 
son,  died  at  Florence,  S.  C. 

130.  MARRIN,  PATRICK,  Perry. — Enlisted     November 
21st,  1861.     Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  January  1st,  1864. 
Was    taken  prisoner  at   Plymouth.     Marrin  was   very 
severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Plymouth,  being  struck 
with  five  Minie  bullets,  while  at  his  post  in  charge  of 
the  caisson   teams.     One  passed  through  his  hat,  just 
grazing  the  skin ;  two  bullets,  not  five  minutes  apart, 
passed  through  the  fleshy  part  of  his  iegs,  abdve  the 
knee  ;  another  lodged  in  his  ankle,  and  remains  there  yet, 
causing   him   a  great  deal  of  suffering  at  times.     He 
showed  no  cowardice,  nor  flinching,  but  remained  at  his 
post  as  long  as  he  was  able.     After  he  was  wounded,  he 
started  for  the  hospital,  using  two  pieces  of  palings  as 
crutches,  and  on  his  way  was  met  by  some  rebels  who 
stopped  him,  set  him  down,  pulled  off  his  boots,  took  his 
hat,  and  then  set  him  up  and  let  him  go  on  minus  hat 
and  boots,  which  were  too  good  to  lose. 


TWENTY- FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  97 

He  remained  at  Plymouth  some  time,  with  others  of 
the  woundea,  and  was  finally  sent  to  Andersonville. 

His  wounded  leg  troubled  him  considerably,  and  he 
was  sent  to  the  hospital.  He  there  made  himself  so  use 
ful  that  he  remained  as  an  attendant  until  he  was  ex 
changed. 

He  was  paroled  in  November,  1864,  at  Savannah. 
Joined  after  exchange,  at  Coanjock,  in  May,  and  was 
transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

Present  address,  Perry,  N.  Y. 

131.  MARRIN,    CONNOR,   Perry. — Enlisted   November 
21st,  1861. 

Was  discharged  from  the  hospital  on  account  of  physi 
cal  inability.  The  following  has  been  copied  from  a 
newspaper  (name  and  date  not  stated)  "  Connor  Marrin, 
a  resident  of  Perry,  and  a  member  of  Lee's  battery,  at 
New  Berne,  N.  C.,  returned  home  on  Monday  evening. 
He  has  dropsy  on  the  liver,  and  has  received  his  dis 
charge  in  consequence." 

We  have  heard  that  he  was  w^ith  his  brother  in  Cali 
fornia. 

132.  MARTIN,  HECTOR  C.,  Warsaw. — Enlisted,  October 
12th,  1861. 

Was  mustered  in  as  bugler,  and  held  that  position  for 
some  time.  It  did  not  suit  his  taste,  however,  and 
others,  whose  musical  genius  better  fitted  them  for  the 
position,  were  appointed  in  his  place.  He  was  promoted 
quartermaster  sergeant,  November  4th,  1862. 

There  is  no  evidence  in  the  muster  rolls  that  he  re- 
enlisted  as  a  veteran. 
7 


98  RECORDS    OF    THE 

If  our  memory  serves  us  rightly,  he  had  determined  to 
serve  out  his  three  years,  and  then  return  to  his  family. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  and  died  at 
Andersonville  Hospital,  August  7th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  5,086. 

133.  MEADE,  G-EORGE  F.  II.,  Moscow. — He  was  mus 
tered  in  some  time  in  1864. 

We  cannot  find  his  name  in  any  of  the  muster  rolls  in 
our  possession. 

William  Carnahan  writes  that  Meade  was  shot  in  the 
battle  at  Plymouth,  and  that  he  saw  him  after  he  was 
dead.  We  believe  that  he  was  attached  to  Williams  de 
tachment,  and  the  current  report  in  the  story*  of  the 
battle  of  Plymouth,  as  told  by -the  men  of  that  detachment, 
was,  that  Meade  was  shot  dead  instantly.  The  ball  passing 
either  through  his  head  or  his  heart. 

134.  MERRILL,  J.  W.,  Perry.— Enlisted  August  30th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  on  the  same  day. 

Was  appointed  sergeant,  November  4th,  1862. 

Was  reduced  February  18th,  1864,  to  private,  by  his 
own  request,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  accept  a  detail  in 
the  quartermaster's  department,  at  Plymouth.  At  the 
battle  of  Plymouth,  by  request  of  Captain  Cady,  he  re 
sumed  the  command  of  his  old  detachment,  which  was 
stationed  at  the  extreme  right*  of  the  line  of  works. 
While  in  the  army  was  correspondent  for  "  The  Wyoming 
Times "  and  "The  Western  New  Yorker, "  over  the 
signature  of  "  J.  W.  M." 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  99 

Was  discharged  from  the  service,  by  special  order  of 
the  Secretary  of  War,  No.  157,  on  the  20th  of  April, 
186-1-,  in  order  to  allow  him  to  accept  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  in  the  Second  New  York  Artillery. 
(See  vol.'  2,  New  York  State  Adjutant's  Eeport,  1868.) 
At  the  same  date,  and  before  the  discharge  and  com 
mission  had  reached  him,  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Ply 
mouth.  Durir^'  his  imprisonment  he  remained  a  month 
in  the  stockade.  Was  sent  from  there  to  the  hospital. 
By  the  kind  attention  received  from  Dr.  A.  W.  Barrows, 
of  Amherst,  Mass.,  a  fellow  prisoner,  he  sufficiently  re 
covered  to  do  duty  in  the  hospital,  in  caring  for  the  sick. 
Was  a  short  time  in  Mill  en  prison.  Was  paroled  for 
exchange  at  Savannah,  November  20th,  1864.  He  reached 
the  Federal  steamer  with  little  clothing,  penniless  and 
hungry.  Remained  in  General  Mulford's  office,  on  the  flag 
ship,  "New  York,"  of  the  exchange  fleet,  a  month.  Was 
mustered  out  of  service,  August,  1865,  in  New  York 
City. 

Was  in  the  Treasurer's  office  of  the  United  States 
Telegraph  Company,  about  a  year.  In  March,  1866,  was 
elected  Secretary  of  the  "  North  America"  Life  Insurance 
Company.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1869,  was  elected  Yice- 
President  of  the  same  company,  vice  T.  T.  Merwin,  re 
signed,  and  was  sent  to  California,  partly  to  visit  the 
"  Pacific  Branch  Agency  "  of  the  "  North  America,  " 
and  partly  for  his  healtj}. 

Married  Miss  M.  C.  Morgan,  of  Brooklyn,  April  25th, 
186T. 

Present  address,  17  &  19  Warren  Sfreet,  New  York 
City. 


100  RECORDS    OF    THE 

135.  MILLER,  GEORGE,  Hamlin,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  duty 
October  23d,  1861. 

He-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  January  1st,  1864.  Reported 
on  company  roll  as  "  absent  at  College  Green  Barracks, 
Annapolis,  as  a  paroled  prisoner." 

136.  MINER,  J.  GILE,  Perry. — Enlisted  October  5th, 
1861.     He  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  January  1st,  1864. 
Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Anderson- 
ville  Stockade,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  August  3d,  1864. 
The  number  of  his  grave  is  4,771. 

Gile  was  the  sutler  of  our  camp,  he  was  a  hard  worker 
and  did  not  allow  his  store  to  interfere  with  his  duties. 
He  was  shrewd — understood  when  and  where  to  accom 
modate  with  finances — and  withal,  managed  to  keep  his 
matters  of  business  so  to  himself,  that  few  knew  how 
much  or  how  little  he  accumulated. 

We  did  not  see  him  after  we  arrived  at  Andersonville, 
and  cannot  therefore  say  anything  of  his  prison  expe 
rience. 

137.  HOSIER,  MARION  R. — Enlisted  in  Weathersfield, 
Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.     Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October 
22d,    1861.     Mustered   out    at   Elrnira,   X.   Y.     Re-en 
listed  as  a  veteran  at  Plymouth,  January  1st,  1864.     Was 
prisoner   at    Andersonville,    Charleston    and    Florence. 
Was  paroled  at  Wilmington,  X.  C.     Married,  May  llth, 
1865,  to  Rosettie  Lewis,  of  East  Pike,  K  Y. 

Present  residency,  East  Pike,  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y. 

138.  HUNBOE,  "DARIUS,  Hager,  K.  Y. — Joined  for  duty, 
September  28th,  1861. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  101 

139.  MURRAY,  WM.    R.    New    York  City.— Enlisted 
November,  1861,  in  Company  A.,  of  the  Eocket  Battalion. 
Was  transferred  to  Company  B,  and  promoted  orderly 
sergeant. 

In  January,  1862,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  some  of 
the  appointments,  he  left  the  Company  and  went  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  remained  until  June  2d,  1864. 

He  was  court  martialled  for  desertion,  September 
12th,  1864,  and  sentenced  by  Court  Martial  Order  No. 
50,  Head-quarters,  Military  Governor,  Alexandria:— 
"  with  loss  of  all  pay  and  allowance  due  to  him — to  forfeit 
$10  per  month  for  20  months,  and  make  good  all  time 
lost  by  desertion." 

His  sentence  was  upon  his  petition  and  explanation  of 
the  circumstances,  revoked  in  part. 

He  rejoined  for  duty,  November,  22d,  1864 — having 
had  a  severe  experience  in  the  prisons — and  was  promo 
ted  sergeant,  April  1st,  1865. 

His  promotion  to  the  first  sergeancy  was  heartily  en 
dorsed  by  all.  In  his  latter  experience  with  the  Battery, 
he  proved  to  be  one  of  the  best  soldiers  in  the  Battery. 

If  being  deceived  and  misinformed  by  superior  officers, 
is  a  sufficient  cause  for  a  soldier  to  desert,  he  had  good 
reason  for  doing  as  he  did. 

140.  NEWCOMB,  L. — He  writes  :     "  Enlisted  at  Perry, 
October  12th,  1861,  by  J.  E.  Lee. 

"  Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  26th,  1861. 

"  Re-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  January  1st,  1864. 

"  I  wras  mustered  in  as  bugler,  on  account  of  my  age, 
as  the  mustering  officers  would  not  take  any  person  un 
der  eighteen  years  of  age,  except  as  a  musician. 


102  BECOBDS    OF    THE 

"Was  appointed  corporal,  June  22d,  1863,  and  ser 
geant,  February  18th,  1864. 

"  My  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  Twenty-fourth 
Independent  Battery,  1ST.  Y.,  dated  from  January  10th, 
1865.  The  Company  was  transferred  to  .the  Third  New 
York  Artillery  about  May  27th,  1865 — commanded  by 
Col.  Charles  A.  Stewart — and  was  known  as  Battery  '  L.' 

"  I  had  my  commission  transferred  to  the  Third. 

"  Received  a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  the 
Third,  issued  the  21st  June,  1865,  by  Gov.  Fenton,  to 
date  from  March  1 7th,  1865,  but  did  not  muster  on  account 
of  an  order  stopping  the  mustering  in  of  any  more  offi 
cers  in  that  department. 

"  I  also  received  a  third  commission  as  first  lieutenant, 
issued  July  5th,  1865,  to  date  from  the  2d  July,  1865, 
but  did  not  muster.  I  acted  as  lieutenant  all  the  time 
after  I  joined  the  Company,  until  I  was  mustered  out. 

"  I  was  captured  April  20th,  1864,  and  sent  direct  to 
Andersonville ;  went  into  the  stockade,  May  1st  1864. 
I  received  a  reprimand  from  Captain  Wirz  before  I  en 
tered  the  prison ;  I  was  just  recovering  from  a  shake  of 
the  ague,  and  being  weak,  I  sat  down  while  they  were 
taking  our  names  at  the  cars, — he  saw  me,  and  said 
"  G — d — you,  get  up  from  there,  I  will  learn  you  to  stand 
in  line  when  I  tell  you,  before  you  have  been  here  long, 
you  d — sons  of  b — ;"  I  stood  up,  and  think  all  the  rest 
did  so. 

"  1  was  put  into  the  Thirty-ninth  Detachment  but 
soon  consolidated  the  Detachments,  and  brought  our 
number  down  to  the  Twenty-first  Detachment. 

"  I  remained  in  that  Detachment  until  I  left  Ander- 
soiiville. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  103 

"  There  were  eight  of  us  boys  in  our  tent  (a  blanket 
stretched  over  a  pole).  They  all  went  to  the  hospital,  and 
three  or  four  out  of  the  eight  died.  I  left  Anderson- 
ville  for  Charleston,  S.  C.  about  September  10th,  1864, 
was  kept  at  Charleston  about  one  month.  I  had 
the  scurvy,  when  I  left  Andersonville,  in  the  right 
limb  so  badly  that  I  could  not  straighten  it.  Went 
to  the  hospital  at  Charleston,  stayed  three  days  in  the  rain 
without  any  shelter,  and  finally  went  back  to  camp  and 
thought  myself  better  off.  Left  for  Florence  about  the 
10th  of  October,  1864,  remained  there  until  about  the  18th 
of  February,  when  we  were  sent  to  "Wilmington,  N.  C.,  (I 
was  just  getting  over  the  fever  at  this  time)  we  could  hear 
our  forces  fighting,  a  few  miles  from  town.  Was  sent  to 
Goldsboro',  N.  C.  Kemained  there  until  the  night  of  Feb 
ruary,  25th,  when  we  were  sent  back  to  Wilmington,  to 
be  paroled.  Arrived  there  on  the  afternoon  of  the  26th 
February.  I  had  thus  been  10  months  and  six  days 
in  the  hands  of  the  Eebels,  and  left  there  in  a  few  days 
for  Annapolis,  Md." 

Newcomb  accompanied  the  section  that  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Kinston,  Goldsboro',  &c.  During  the 
engagement  at  Whitehall,  he  dismounted  and  relieved 
one  of  the  cannoneers,  and  in  several  ways  displayed  great 
coolness  and  bravery.  His  promotion  to  sergeancy  fol 
lowed  his  conduct  at  this  battle.  In  speaking  of  the 
battle  of  Whitehall,  he  says  : 

"There  were  about  34  privates,  cannoneers  and  drivers 
on  the  march.  J.  Button  No.  2,  Third  Detachment,  was 
behind  from  some  cause^  and  I  occup'ied  his  place.  I 
went  down  to  the  stream  for  water  in  front  of  our  skir- 


104  RECORDS    OF    THE 

mishers,  and  I  could  see  the  Eebel  skirmishers  across 
the  stream.  T  was  not  with  Bob  Turner  when  he  was 
killed,  therefore  I  could  not  give  the  particulars  of  his 
death.  I  got  the  fragment  of  shell  that  he  was  killed 
by — and  let  Lieutenant  George  Hastings  take  it  after 
reaching  New  Berne." 

Mustered  out  of  service,  July  7th,  1865,  at  Syracuse. 

Married  Miss  Aurelia  Austin. 

Present  address,  Perry  Centre,  Wyoming  Co.  K  Y. 

141.  NEWTON,  EILEY  J.,  Moscow. — Enlisted  August 
29th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  promoted  corporal,  April,  1 864. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Anderson- 
ville  Hospital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  July  31st,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  4,469. 

At  the  time  that  Newton  enlisted  he  had  every  right  to 
expect  a  very  prosperous  business  if  he  remained  at  home, 
but  comprehending  that  the  war  was  not  to  be  of  such 
short  duration  as  many  anticipated,  and  feeling  that  he 
was  an  able-bodied  man,  he  could  not  persuade  his  con 
science  that  it  was  right  for  him  to  stay  away  from  the 
scene  of  action.  He  stopped  building — put  away  the 
lumber — and,  as  in  olden  times,  the  farmers  left  the 
plough  in  the  field,  while  they  put  the  musket  on  their 
shoulder  and  fell  into  the  ranks,  so  he  dropped  his  tools, 
threw  aside  his  work  and  stepped  into  our  ranks ;  prom 
ising,  with  an  understanding  of  what  he  promised — to 
fight  with  us  for '  three  years.  Tn  prison  he  progressed 
very  well.  Tn  the  hospital  he  was  well  cared  for.  He 


TWEXTY-FOURTll    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  105 

died  of  disease,  not  of  starvation.  In  character  he  was 
positive,  but  mild  and  true.  In  his  sickness  he  realized 
that  he  was  low,  and  was  prepared  for  the  worst. 

142.  NICHOLS,  SAMUEL.— Enlisted  October  llth,  1861, 
at  Clarkson.     Re- enlisted  as  a  veteran,  January,  1864, 
and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.    Die  d  at  the  United 
States  General  Hospital,  Annapolis,  Md.,  December  21st, 
1864,  with  chronic  diarrhoea.       He  was  one  of  the  no 
ble  specimens  of  manly  beauty — six  feet   and   over   in 
height — well  proportioned,   and  always  glorying  in  his 
strength  and  activity.     The  severity  of  the  prison  life  at 
Andersonville,  made  such  changes  in  him,  that  when  the 
writer  found  him  on  the  decks  of  the  exchange  steamer 
at  Charleston,  he  could  hardly  recognize  him.     His  death 

is  solely  attributable  to  that  prison  treatment. 

• 

143.  NICHOLS,    WILLIAM    P. — Enlisted    at    Hamlin, 
N.  Y.,  November  9th,  1864. 

Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  at  Plymouth,  in  January, 
1864. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Plymouth. 

Ferguson  says  that  "  William  Nichols  died  at  Charles 
ton,  S.  C." 

Lloyd  says  that  "  he  saw  him  in  a  very  reduced  condi 
tion  at  Annapolis  Hospital." 

Camp  reports  that  "he  was  remarked  upon  in  the  mus 
ter  roll  as  '  absent  at  the  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Annap 
olis,  Md.,'  where  he  was  paid  for  September  and  October, 
1864." 

We  are  inclined  to  think  that  he  died  at  Annapolis. 


106  RECORDS   OF   THE 

144.  OTIS,   FRANKLIN  D.,  Hainlin. — Enlisted  October 
21st,  1861. 

Was  appointed  corporal  at  Albany,  and  was  one  of  the 
few  who  retained  his  position  throughout  all  the  changes 
of  the  organization.  He  died  at  Plymouth,  of  a  conges 
tive  chill,  the  result  of  a  long  siege  of  fever  and  ague. 
He  was  a  professor  of  religion,  and  an.  upright,  conscien 
tious  young  man.  He  possessed  the  esteem  and  respect 
of  all  who  knew  him. 

145.  OTIS,  CHARLES,  Koyalton,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in  October  12th,  1864,  for  one  year.     Joined 
November  9th,  1864,  at  Roanoke. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 

1865. 

146.  O'DuLL,  THOMAS.— Enlisted  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. 
for  one  year,  October  13th,  1864.     Joined  for  duty  at 
Koanoke,  December  1st,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

147.  PAGE,  H.  C.— Enlisted   at   Perry,   October   1st, 
1861. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  October  26th,  1861. 

Page  took  an  active  interest  in  enlisting  men  at  the 
time  of  Captain  Lee's  organization  of  the  Company. 

He  was  warranted  as  quartermaster's  sergeant,  and 
proved  an  efficient  man  in  the  right  place. 

Was  correspondent  for  the  "  Wyoming  Times" 

He  writes : — "  Discharged  at  New  Berne,  July  1st, 
1862,  for  disability,  having  contracted  fever. 

"Again  enlisted  in  New  York  City,  November  23d, 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY:  107 

1863,  and  mustered  out  with  the  Company  at  Syracuse, 
July  18th,  1865.  Was  in  Andersonville  and  Millen  prisons. 

"Beached  Andersonville,  May  1st,  1861.  After  being 
confined  in  the  stockade  about  one  month,  was  employed 
by  the  Confederates  to  assist  in  the  hospital,  outside  of 
the  enclosure — to  which  fact  I  attribute  the  preservation 
of  my  life — was  employed  about  the  Dispensatory. 

"  While  in  the  Hospital,  I  attended  many  of  the  Com 
pany,  and  saw  several  die. 

aParoledat  Charleston  S.  C.,  November  20th,  1861,  and 
exchanged  while  at  Parole  Camp,  Annapolis. 

"  After  being  paroled,  remained  on  the  Flag  of  Truce 
boat  "  New  York"  one  month,  as  clerk  for  Col.  Mulford, 
Commissioner  of  Exchange.  Keached  Parole  Camp, 
Annapolis,  December  20th.  Furloughed  for  30  days,  in 
common  with  returned  prisoners.  Returned  to  Parole 
Camp,  January  23d,  1865.  Forwarded  to  Boanoke  Island, 
N.  C.,  where  the  remnant  of  the  Battery  was  stationed, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Camp,  and  did  duty  with 
the  Battery,  until  mustered  out  as  above. 

u  Was  quartermaster  sergeant  from  the  organization  at 
Buffalo,  until  discharged  at  New  Berne.  Promoted  from 
private  to  quartermaster  sergeant,  February  1st,  1865, 
by  Lieutenant  Camp. 

"  Have  resided  in  Missouri  and  been  engaged  in  teach 
ing,  since  leaving  the  army. 

"  Reside  now  at  Maysville,  De  Kalb  Co.,  Mo.,  and  am 
practicing  law." 

148.  PAGE,  WILLIAM  N. — Was  detailed  in  quarter 
masters  department  at  New  Beriie. 


108  •  RECORDS  OF  THE 

Came  North  in  April,  1863,  and  organized  a  Company 
for  the  Eleventh  Artillery.  Was  promoted  to  second  lieu 
tenant  in  the  Fourth  Artillery.  Then  completed  his 
theological  studies,  and  during  1867,  visited  Europe.  On 
his  return  took  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Trumansville,  N.  Y. 

In  December,  1868,  received  a  call  to  preach  in  Jack 
sonville,  Florida,  which  is  his  present  address. 

Married,  September  27th,  1862,  to  Miss  Jennie  A.  Peck, 
of  West  Bloomfield. 

149.  PARMLEE,  O.  G.,  Hamlin,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  duty, 
November  9th,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  at  Plymouth,  in  January,  1864. 

For  some  reason,  he  did  not  reach  Plymouth  in  time 
to  participate  in  the  battle. 

He  rejoined  the  Battery  at  Koanoke  Island,  was  trans 
ferred  to  Company  "  L,"  Third  New  York  Artillery, 
and  mustered  out  with  the  rest  of  that  Company. 

150.  PATTERSON,  WILLIAM,  West  Sparta. — Joined  for 
duty,  February  19th,  1864.    Mustered  into  service  at  Can- 
andaigua,  February  25th,  1864. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  We  find  him  reported 
on  the  muster  roll  as  "  Absent  at  College  Green  Bar 
racks,  Annapolis — a  paroled  prisoner." 

151.  PERKINS,  JAMES  W.,  Cuylerville,  N.  Y. — Mustered 
in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862.     Was  taken  prisoner  at 
Plymouth,  April  20th,  1864.    Died  at  Andersonville  Hos 
pital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  August  28th,  1864.     The  num 
ber  of  his  grave  is  7,172. 


TWENTY-FOURTH     NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  109 

In  camp  he  went  by  the  sobriquet  of  "Peter."  He 
was  full  of  life  and  fun.  In  his  prison  experience  we  saw 
but  little  of  him,  until  he  came  to  the  hospital ;  such 
was  his  condition,  at  that  time,  that  little  of  his  former 
spirit  was  visible. 

152.  PHELAN,  CHARLES  T.,  New  York  City. — Mustered 
in,  September,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  January  1st,  1864.     Promoted  to  corporal. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  remained  in  the  Prison 
Stockade.  Was  exchanged  December  4th,  1864,  on  parole. 

Was  sick  only  three  days  during  his  imprisonment. 

Was  at  the  Camp  of  Parole,  at  Annapolis,  until  the  9th 
of  June,  when  he  was  discharged.  Visited  Johnstown, 
Fulton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  remained  there  until  August ;  then 
went  to  Eastman's  Commercial  College,  at  Poughkeepsie. 
Graduated  the  23d  of  December.  Went  into  business  at 
Poughkeepsie.  On  the  20th  ol  April,  went  to  the  Island 
of  Cuba,  remained  there  a  year  and  then  returned  to 
New  York. 

Was  married  to  Miss  Avis  Dater,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
July  6th,  1868,  and  is  now  living  in  New  York. 

153.  PIPER,  GEORGE  W.,  Perry. — Was  mustered  in  at 
Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth  and  died  at  Andersonville. 

We  do  not  know  the  date  of  his  death ;  it  would  not 
be  difficult  to  tell  the  cause.  We  believe  that  he  left  a 
wife,  who  resides  in  Pike. 

154.  PIPER,  A.,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty  in  February, 
1864. 


110  RECORDS    OF   THE 

He  reached  Plymouth  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  bat 
tle,  and  to  be  taken  (prisoner. 

He  died  at  Andersonville  about  the  same  time  that  his 
brother  died. 

155.  PRATT,  PHILANDER,  Perry. — Mustered  in  at  Buf 
falo,  August  31st,  1862. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth ;  taken  to  Anderson 
ville,    and   died   at   that   place,    August    21st,    1864,  of 
chronic  diarrhoea. 
.   The  number  of  his  grave  is  6,455. 

Pratt  was  an  excellent  cannoneer,  ready  for  duty  and 
quick  at  his  work.  A  quiet  and  pleasant  comrade.  He  was 
one  of  the  useful  men  at  the  sawmill  at  Newport  Barracks. 

We  believe  that  in  the  later  days  at  Plymouth,  he  was 
promoted  corporal. 

• 

156.  PRINCE,  WILLIAM. — Enlisted  October  4th,  1864,  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  for  one   year.      Joined   at   Roanoke, 
November  22d,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

15Y.  PURDT,  S.  R.— Enlisted  at  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  Sep 
tember  29th,  1864.  Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.  Joined  for  duty  at  Roanoke, 
October  18th,  1864. 

158.  QUINN,  JOHN,  Perry. — Joined  for  duty,  November 
21st,  1861. 

At  Washington,  where  Battery  "  B,"  of  the  Rocket 
Battalion,  was  embarking  on  the  vessels  for  New  Berne, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  Ill 

Quinn  defended  one  of  the  Battery  boys  who  was  light 
and  small,  in  an  altercation  with  a  stronger  man,  a  sol 
dier  of  another  regiment.  The  soldier  drew  a  knife  and 
stabbed  Quinn  several  times ;  but,  notwithstanding  this, 
Quinn  continued  to  fight  until  he  had  taken  the  knife 
away  from  his  antagonist,  and  in  turn  given  him  several 
dangerous  plunges  of  the  weapon.  Upon  being  separa 
ted,  both  were  found  to  be  dangerously  wounded,  and 
were  removed  to  the  hospital. 

Quinn  never  returned  to  the  Battery. 

We  have  heard  that  he  was  residing  in  Portage. 

159.  RANKIN,  ERASTUS. — Enlisted  at  Rochester,  Octo 
ber  7th,  1864,  for  one  year.     Joined  at  Roanoke,  Decem 
ber  1st,  1864.   Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

160.  RATHBONE,  SYDNEY  S.,  Perry. — Enlisted  October 
3d,  1861.  "Was  discharged  some  time  in  1862,  for  physical 
inability. 

His  historical  picture,  as  represented  by  the  older  por 
tion  of  the  Battery  boys,  was  that  of  a  "  Jolly  old  Ambu 
lance  driver." 

161.  RAWSON,    PORTER  D.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August 
26th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  appointed  artificer,  November  4th,  1862. 

Brought  up  in  a  radical  school,  he  believed  in  showing 
practically  his  political  tendencies.  He  left  his  family 
and  a  happy  home,  to  share  the  privations  and  the  suffer 
ings  of  his  fellows,  who  were  fighting  out  the  principles 


112  RECORDS    OF   THE 

which  they  believed  were  right.  He  was  an  eccentric 
genius,  and  adapted  himself  to  his  army  life  with  little 
complaint.  He  was  ready  to  mend  or  make  anything 
named  in  the  Artillery  Vocabulary.  He  undertook  the 
management  of  the  engine  in  the  steam  saw  mill,  with 
as  much  assurance  as  if  engineering  was  his  profession ; 
and  he  was  one  of  the  principal  aids  in  making  it  a  suc 
cess.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  From  all 
the  information  in  our  possession,  we  are  led  to  believe 
that  he  died  on  the  cars,  while  being  conveyed  from  Flor 
ence  to  Charleston.  Ferrin  saw  him  taken  out  of  the 
Florence  Hospital  in  a  very  weak  condition,  to  be  trans 
ported,  with  others,  to  Charleston,  for  exchange.  We 
believe  there  is  no  further  knowledge  of  his  existence 
among  the  surviving  members  of  the  Battery. 

162.  RAYMOND,  HENRY. — Enlisted  in  Second  New 
York  Volunteers,  in  April,  1861,  and  discharged  with 
his  regiment,  May  26th,  186,3.  September  7th,  1864, 
re-enlisted  at  Albany,  *  for  one  year,  as  a  recruit  for 
the  Sixth  Heavy  Artillery  Regiment.  Was  sent  to  Hart 
Island  rendezvous,  and  there,  contrary  to  his  wishes  or 
enlistment,  was  transferred  to  the  Ninth  Heavy  Artil 
lery,  and  in  company  with  Daniel  Jackson  and  others, 
he  was  forwarded  to  join  his  company  on  the  James 
River,  Va.  After  Jackson  deserted,  he  (Raymond) 
determined  to  take  his  name,  and  answer  to  Jackson  and 
come  on  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Battery,  instead  of  going 
to  the  Ninth  Heavy  Artillery.  This  he  did,  and  was  known 
as  Jackson.  Soon  after'Camp  took  command,  he  received 
a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  enclosing  a  letter 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NKW    YORK     BATTERY.  113 

from  Raymond's  father  to  the  President,  stating  his  case 
and  asking  pardon,  as  he  presumed  he  was  reported  as 
a  deserter.  At  this  time,  Jackson  alias  Raymond,  was 
company  clerk,  and  anxious  indeed  was  he  to  hear 
his  fate.  He  had  enlisted  for  one  year,  and  Jackson  for 
three  years ;  he  had  stepped  into  the  wrong  man's  boots, 
and  was  anxious  about  the  two  extra  years.  The  case 
was  kept  a  profound  secret  and  not  known  in  the  Com 
pany  until  May,  when  it  left  Coanjock  Bridge  for  New 
Berne  to  be  transferred.  Orders  were  received  to  send  him 
to  the  Sixth  Heavy  Artillery,  and  with  a  recommenda 
tion  for  pardon  in  case  of  Court  Martial.  He  was  started 
as  ordered,  and  afterwards  it  was  learned  that  he  was  not 
court  martialed  but  found  a  good  company  and  kind 
officers. 

Was  an  excellent  soldier  and  good  company  clerk. 

163.  RICH,  THURMON,  Hague,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  duty, 
September  21st,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  January,  1864.  Married 
while  on  furlough.  Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth, 
and  died  at  Andersonville  Stockade,  July  8th,  1864,  of 
chronic  diarrhoea.  . 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  3,077. 

164.  RICHARDS,  ELI  AS,  Perry. — Mustered  in,  August 
30th,  1862. 

Was  at  the  second  attack  of  New  Berne,  and  battle  of 
Plymouth.     Promoted  to  corporal,  by  Captain  Cady,  at 
Plymouth.  Was  taken  prisoner  and  was  sent  to  Anderson 
ville  ;  became  sick,  and  was  sent  from  the  stockade  to  the 
8 


114  RECORDS    OF    THE 

hospital,  where  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  aid  in  caring 
for  the  sick.  Was  paroled  at  Andersonville,  and  sent 
from  there  to  Vicksburg,  by  way  of  Columbus,  Gra.,  and 
Montgomery,  Ala.  Was  exchanged  at  St.  Louis.  From  St. 
Louis  went  directly  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  was  finally 
mustered  out,  the  12th  of  July,  1865,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Has  since  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad 
Company,  at  Hornellsville,  N.  Y.,  comfortably  settled. 

Present  address,  Hornellsville,  1ST.  Y. 

165.  RICHARDS,  ALBERT,  Perry. — Enlisted  October  1st, 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  October  1st,  1861. 

He  received  a  warrant  as  artificer,  in  October. 

In  February,  1862,  he  accompanied  Captain  Lee  and 
sister,  on  a  visit  to  the  Bull  Run  battle  field,  a  description 
of  which  was  written  by  a  correspondent  of  the  "  Wyo 
ming  Times" 

While  on  a  scout  out  of  Newport  Barracks,  he  discov 
ered  the  sawr-mill  which  was  afterwards,  under  Lieuten 
ant  Cady  and  his  engineers,  made  so  useful  to  the  Com 
pany. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  Remained  in  the 
stockade  at  Andersonville  until  September  12th,  1864. 
Was  taken  from  there  to  Charleston,  thence  to  Florence. 

While  staying  there,  food  was  very  scarce,  and  for 
three  consecutive  days,  he  had  had  nothing  to  eat  of  any 
kind.  During  his  entire  stay  there,  he  had  meat  but  three 
times. 

Was  paroled  on  the  8th  of  December,  1864.  Was  sent 
to  St.  John's  Hospital,  at  Annapolis.  As  soon  as  he  was 
in  condition,  he  received  a  furlough  to  go  home. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK     BATTERY.  115 

Remained  home,  quite  ill,  until  April  7th,  1865.  Then 
reported  himself  to  the  hospital  again.  Was  sent  from 
there  to  Camp  of  Parole,  and  finally,  was  ordered  to  his 
Company  at  New  Berne.  Was  mustered  out  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  July  7th,  1865.  Has  since  resided  in  Perry,  N.  Y. 

166.  RICHARDSON,   ORLANDO,  Moscow. — Enlisted    Au 
gust  18th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

Joined  October  17th,  1864,  at  Roanoke  Island. 

He  was  a  queer  specimen  of  humanity.  In  the  warmest 
days  of  July,  he  would  wear  two  suits  of  clothes  to  keep 
warm.  Sergeant  Russell  had  him  under  his  especial  care 
with  instructions  to  make  a  soldier  of  him  if  possible; 
but  although  Russell  had  had  fourteen  years  experience 
in  the  Regular  Army,  he'd  more  than  found  his  match  in 
Richardson. 

167.  ROACH,  WILLIAM,    Gainsville,    N.    Y.— Enlisted 
March  24th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery.  May  25th, 
1865. 

Joined  at  Roanoke,  April  20th,  1864.  A  good  reliable 
soldier. 

168.  ROOD,  LE  GRAND  D.,  Perry. — Enlisted    August 
28th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 
Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Anderson  - 
ville,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  June  7th,  1864. 
The  number  of  his  grave  is  1,735. 


116  RECORDS    OF    THE 

He  was  the  fourth  member  of  the  Battery  who  died 
at  Anderson ville.  While  we  were  stationed  at  Plymouth, 
there  was  quite  an  interest  aroused  in  the  minds  of  sev 
eral  of  the  men,  as  to  their  spiritual  condition. 

Arguments  upon  certain  portions  of  the  Bible,  had  led 
them  to  a  more  thorough  investigation  of  its  truths. 

Among  those  who  were  earnest  and  zealous  advocates 
of  a  more  faithful  obedience  to  its  laws,  were  Hoyt,  East 
wood,  Bachelder,  Shirley  and  Rood.  Rood  kept  up  that 
interest,  and  to  the  day  of  his  death,  endeavored  to  act 
and  speak  as  would  become  one  who  wished  and  hoped 
to  enter  the  promised  land  of  joy  above. 

169.  ROOT,  HIRAM.— Enlisted  October  10th,  1864,  at 
Rochester,  for  one  year.     Joined  for  duty  at  Roarioke, 
November  17th,  1864.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery. 

170.  ROOT,  STEPHEN,  Hamlin,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  Octo 
ber  13th,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  at  Plymouth,  in  January, 
1864. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  is  reported  to 
have  died  at  Florence,  S.  C. 

171.  ROWELL,  SOLON,  Clarkson,  N.  Y. — Enlisted,  Octo 
ber  4th,  1861. 

He  was  at  Newport  Barracks  when  the  recruits  came 
there  in  October,  1862.  He  soon  after  received  a  furlough 
on  account  of  sickness.  He  never  returned  to  the 
Battery. 


TWENTY-FOURTH   NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  117 

We  have  been  told  that  he  was  discharged  at  the  hospi 
tal  at  Rochester,  and  is  now  living  at  Hanilin. 

172.  RUSSELL,  ENOCH  J. — Enlisted  at  Rochester,  Octo 
ber  6th,  1864,  for  one  year.    Joined  at  Roanoke,  Novem 
ber  9th,  1864.  Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

173.  RUSSELL,  JOHN  A.,  Ticonderoga. — Enlisted  Octo 
ber  15th,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  January,  1864. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  He  endured  to  the 
end  the  prison  treatment,  and  was  paroled. 

Joined  the  Company  in  May,  at  Coanjock  Station- 
clean,  fat  and  healthy,  never  looked  better. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

174.  RUSSELL,  JOHN,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
September  27th,  1864. 

Promoted  corporal,  November  18th,  1864. 

Promoted  sergeant,  November  25th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

This  man  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
1861,  where  he  had  a  part  of  his  skull  taken  out,  and  drew 
a  pension  of  $8  per  month.  Had  served  fourteen  years 
in  the  regular  service  and  felt  away  from  home  when  out 
of  the  army.  Thorough  in  discipline,  he  became  a  valua 
ble  non-com.,  always  making  the  men  keep  themselves 
and  their  quarters  in  regular  army  style  ;  acted  as  orderly 
part  of  the  time. 


118  RECORDS   OF    THE 

175.  SACKETT,  WALTER,  Albany. — Enlisted  September 
20th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

Joined  October  12th,  1864,  at  Koanoke. 

176.  SAFFORD,  PEMBROKE  J.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August 
28th,  1862. 

Mustered  in,  August  30th,  1862,  at  Buffalo. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth  and  died  at  Ander- 
sonville  Hospital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  June  12th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  1,880. 

It  is  noticeable  that  Rood  and  Safford,  who  represented 
that  portion  of  Perry  called  u  Buffalo  Corners,"  in  the 
Battery,  should  (after  having  been  playmates,  school 
mates,  and  finally  comrades  in  battle)  have  died  within 
five  days  of  each  other. 

Safford  never  appeared  like  a  strong  man ;  and  yet  he 
was  able  to  endure  a  good  deal  of  hardship. 

If  we  may  judge  from  the  warm  clothing  and  other 
things  of  comfort,  that  were  sent  to  him  from  his  home, 
we  should  conclude  that  they  also  thought  him  none  too 
sturdy.  He  did  not  stay  long  witli  us  after  we  reached 
prison  ;  and  if  it  had  been  ordained  by  a  wise  God  that 
he  must  be  sacrificed,  we  think,  what  a  kindness  was 
there  in  making  his  stay  in  such  a  horror,  brief. 

177.  SANFORD,  L.  J. 

178.  SECOR,  ANDREW  J.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
March  24th,  1864. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  119 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 

A  very  good  soldier.  Punished  once  by  knapsack 
drill  one  hour  each  day  for  a  week,  under  Sergeant  Rus 
sell,  for  robbing  a  setting  hen  of  her  eggs,  which  was 
"  against  orders." 

179.  SHANK,  LAB  AN  H.,  Mount  Morris. — Enlisted  and 
mustered  in,  August  30th,  1862,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.    Was 
taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Andersonville 
Hospital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  August  13th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  5,645. 

Shank  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  a  man  of 
utility  in  the  Battery.  He  stood  the  test  of  a  soldier's 
life  with  great  endurance,  until  he  reached  Andersonville, 
but  that  proved  too  much,  and  his  physical  force  yielded 
t>  the  pressure  sooner  than  many  of  the  others. 

180.  SHELL,  JOHN,  Clarkson,  N.  Y. — Joined  for  duty, 
October  10th,  1801. 

Discharged  for  physical  inability,  April,  1862. 

181.  SHEPPARD,  NELSON. — Enlisted  May   llth,  1863, 
at  Plymouth,  N.  C. — a  colored  cook.    Was  taken  prisoner 
at  Plymouth,  April  20th,  1864.     Put  in  prison  there  and 
forced  to  trade  hat,  boots,  watch,  &c.,  with  the  rebels. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had  acted  as  guide  on  several 
raids  our  cavalry  had  made  up  towards  Williamston,  the 
inhabitants  of  that  vicinity  tried  to  see  what  they  could 
do  for  Nelson,  to  repay  his  kindness.  They  accordingly 
'got  an  order  to  whip  him,  which  was  done  in  the  most 


120  RECORDS    OF    THE 

approved  style ;  the  next  day  they  dished  up  another  dose, 
and  for  several  days  poor  Kelson  had  to  undergo  chas 
tisement.  Was  then  put  in  a  gang  with  hall  and  chain, 
and  sent  to  Tarboro,  N.  C.,  where  he  got  rid  of  the  hall ; 
was  then  sent  to  Weldon,  to  work  on  fortifications  ;  there 
he  got  rid  of  his  chain  and  made  his  escape,  joining  the 
company  at  Roanoke  Island,  in  the  fall  of  1864. 

Was  transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

Nelson  was  very  shy  of  rebels  after  his  treatment  at 
Plymouth.  Whenever  there  was  talk  of  rebels  at  Coan- 
jock,  Nelson  took  his  post  near  the  swamp  and  kept  his 
eyes  pealed. 

182.  SHIRLEY,  PHARES,  Perry. — Enlisted  September, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  September  10th,  1862. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  was  sent  to  An- 
dersonville.  He  was  detailed  from  the  stockade  to  do  duty 
in  the  hospital.  On  the  morning  of  May  21st,  he  came 
up  and  made  quite  a  long  visit  to  the  writer. 

Soon  after  his  return  to  his  own  tent,  he  was  sitting  on 
his  bunk,  conversing  with  some  of  his  comrades,  when  he 
suddenly  fell  over  on  his  couch,  and  immediately  expired. 
There  was  no  post  mortem  examination,  but  he  undoubt 
edly  died  of  heart  disease.  It  was  a  sudden  shock  and 
sad  calamity  to  his  surviving  comrades,  for  he  was  uni 
formly  kind  and  attentive  to  them  all. 

The  following  appropriate  obituary  appeared  in  the 
Western  New  Yorker,  written  by  Rev.  J.  K.  Page : 

"  It  is  not  fit  to  suffer  the  worthy  dead  to  go  down  in  silence  to  the 
grave — to  make  no  note  of  their  departure — and  withhold  the  meed  of 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  11 

praise  due  to  their  exemplary  lives  and  their  precious  memory.  In 
this  connection,  I  want  the  privilege  of  paying  a  brief  tribute  of  friend 
ship,  in  your  columns,  to  one  of  our  noble  Perry  soldiers,  who  died  a 

prisoner  in  rebel  hands. 

##-x-*#*#* 

Born  in  our  village  (Perry)  and  having  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in 
it,  Phares  was  widely  known  and  universally  regarded  as  one  of  our 
most  promising  young  men.  Gentle  and  accommodating  in  disposi 
tion,  proverbially  truthful  and  upright  in  speech  and  act,  free  from 
the  sins  to  which  young  men  in  particular,  are  so  fearfully  exposed, 
he  was  a  general  favorite  in  our  community,  and,  it  is  believed,  he 
he  has  not  left  an  enemy  among  all  who  knew  him.  Favored  with  a 
naturally  amiable  disposition,  grace  had  made  it  increasingly  attract 
ive,  and  his  profession  of  Godliness  was  habitually  honored  in  practice. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  his  funeral  ser 
mon  was  preached  last  Sabbath,  by  the  pastor,  from  1st  Kings,  chap. 
II,  verse  2.  The  theme  of  the  discourse  was  the  dying  soldier's 
legacy  to  each  of  his  countrymen — '  his  unfinished  work.'  " 

A  copy  of  a  letter  to  Phares'  mother  gives  more  par 
ticulars  of  his  death.  It  is  as  follows : 

"  ANDERSONVILLE,  Nov.  15th,  1864. 

"  Dear  Madam — I  enclose  you  a  lock  of  hair  which  I  clipped  from 
Phares'  head.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  some  of  the  particulars  of 
his  death.  It  was  so  sudden  to  us  all,  that  it  hardly  seemed  like 
death.  An  hour  before,  he  sat  in  my  tent  with  me,  chatting  of 
the  times  when  we  were  boys  playing  '  Robin  Hood,'  and  roving 
through  Bailey's  Grove — of  school  days — then  of  our  late  capture,  and 
its  strangeness,  compared  with  those  times.  After  awhile,  he  arose, 
saying,  that  he  thought  he  was  going  to  have  a  chill,  as  he  felt  very 
much  like  it.  Twenty  minutes  after,  one  of  the  boys  came  rushing 
into  the  tent,  saying  that  Phares  was  dying.  I  hastened  to  his  tent 
only  to  find  him  dead.  I  had  a  surgeon  called  immediately,  who 
pronounced  his  ailment — '  heart  disease.'  If  I  am  ever  fortunate 
enough  to  reach  Perry,  I  will  tell  you  all. 

Yours  truly, 

"  J.  W.  M." 


122  RECORDS  OF  THE 

183.  SHOCKENSEY,  TIMOTHY   F.,  China. — Enlisted  Au 
gust  30th,  1862. 

Was  taken  -prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Ander- 
sonville  Stockade,  September  12th,  1864.  The  number 
of  his  grave  is  8,595. 

He  left  a  wife  and  family  to  mourn  his  loss. 

The  sympathy  of  all  who  appreciate  the  sacrifice  that 
a  man  with  a  family  made,  when  he  left  his  home  to 
enter  the  ranks  of  our  army,  as  well  as  the  kindest  wishes 
of  all  his  comrades,  is  tendered  to  them. 

184.  SMITH,  MASON  C.,  Perry. — Enlisted  August  28th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  appointed  corporal  at  Newport  Barracks. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth.  The  writer  saw  but 
little  of  him  until  we  reached  Andersonville.  I  was 
then  called  upon  by  one  of  the  "  battery  boys,"  who  in 
formed  me  that  Mason  was  very  ill,  and  desired  to  see 
me.  Upon  visiting  him  I  found  him  very  low,  with  un 
mistakable  symptoms  of  typhoid  fever.  Pie  recognised 
me  for  a  few  moments  only,  spoke  of  Home,  his  mother, 
and  of  our  old  boy  days,  and  then  wandered  off  in  mind 
to  the  insane  dreams  of  a  fevered  brain.  Even  then,  as 
we  gathered  about  him,  it  appeared  to  us  that  to  be 
allowed  to  be  the  first  one  to  die  in  such  a  place,  was  a 
kindly  boon  of  a  wise  God.  He  died  the  following 
morning,  May  10th,  1864.  The  following  obituary  ap 
peared  in  the  Western  New  Yorker,  wrhen  the  sad  ti 
dings  of  his  sad  death  reached  his  home ; 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK   BATTEBY.  123 

OBITUARY  BY  REV.  J.  R.  PAGE. 

"  Another  noble  sacrifice  for  our  imperiled  country.  Last  Satur 
day,  a  letter  was  received  from  Lieut.  George  S.  Hastings,  who  is  a 
prisoner  at  Macon,  Georgia,  containing  the  brief  sad  line — '  Mason 
Smith  died,  May  10th.' 

"  This  much,  and  no  more  !  His  health  was  quite  poor  at  the  time 
of  his  capture,  and  he,  doubtless,  sank  under  the  long,  weary  march, 
and  the  increased  hardships  incidental  to  his  captivity.  Our  com 
munity  could  mourn  the  loss  of  no  young  man  more  beloved  or 
promising. 

"  He  inherited  the  genial,  quiet,  kind  spirit  of  his  father  ;  had  the 
same  relish  for  literary  pursuits  and  social  enjoyments  ;  was  equally 
intelligent  and  uncompromising  in  his  convictions,  and  bid  fair  to  be 
a  man  of  even  greater  usefulness  and  worth  to  society.  He  had  been 
for  several  years  an  earnest,  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
deeply  interested  in  the  Sabbath  school  and  prayer  meetings  ; 
honored  by  all  his  youthful  associates  for  rare  and  moral  courage,  and 
manly  adherence  to  what  he  regarded  as  the  path  of  duty.  For, 
rather  would  he  right,  all  alone,  than  wrong,  with  the  multitude. 

"  He  had  just  completed  his  second  year  at  Hamilton  College  when 
the  call  for  troops  became  too  earnest  for  him  to  longer  resist.  Had 
he  remained  in  college  it  is  quite  likely  he  would  have  returned 
to  his  home  from  the  recent  commencement,  a  graduate,  in  the  very 
stage  which  brought  the  intelligence  of  his  death.  *  *  .  * 

"  The  frequent  letters  received  from  him  showed  that  he  aimed  to 
meet  all  his  obligations,  and  maintain  his  integrity  amid  abounding 
temptations.  His  efforts  were  more  successful  in  the  opinion  of  others 
than  in  his  own  severer  judgment.  Very  characteristic  is  the  follow 
ing  extract  from  his  last  letter,  save  one — '  In  regard  to  my  being 
corporal,  I  have  only  to  say,  it  was  nothing  of  my  own  seeking ;  I 
never  curry  favor  of  my  officers — I  simply  do  my  duty — and  what  they 
see  fit  to  give  me,  I  take — even  if  it  is  no  more  than  a  corporalcy. 
Non-Commissioned  Officers  in  the  Twenty -fourth  Batter}'  are  very 
precarious.  To  day  you  may  be  a  sergeant,  to-morrow  a  private.  The 
company  is  full  of  men  who  once  held  a  position  in  the  battery.'  "  *  * 

The  following  appears  in  an  obituary,  written  by  the 
secretary  of  his  college  class  : 


124  RECORDS   OP  THE 

"  As  a  class-mate,  he  was  loved  by  us  all.  Few  enjoyed  the  pop 
ularity  that  he  was  held  in  by  all  the  class.  Quiet,  but  determined, 
he  was  first  in  our  sports  and  plans ;  and  by  his  genial  spirit,  made 
all  his  friends. 

"  A  true  Christian  and  an  earnest  worker  ;  we  can  but  mourn  his 
sad  fate,  and  join  our  grief  with  that  of  his  bereaved  family  in  the  loss 
to  them  of  an  only  son  and  brother ;  to  us,  of  an  honored  and  re 
spected  classmate." 

185.  SMITH,  J.  W.,  Kingston. — Enlisted    September 
29th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery,  May  25th, 
1865. 
Joined  at  Roanoke,  October  17th,  1864. 

186.  STEVENS,  GEORGE  W.,   Fort   Plain,  N.  Y.— En 
listed  November  24th,  1861. 

Ee-enlisted  in  January,  1864,  at  Plymouth. 
Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  sent  to  Anderson- 
ville. 

Phelan  informs  us  that  he  died  at  Florence. 

187.  STODDARD,    SAMUEL. — He   writes :     "  I    enlisted 
September  5th,  1862,  at  Perry,  K   Y.     Was  mustered 
in,  September  10th,  1862,  at  Buffalo.     Mustered  out  at 
Syracuse,  K  Y.,  July  7th,  1865. 

"  I  was  not  a  prisoner.  I  barely  escaped  capture  at 
Plymouth,  K  C.,  April  20th,  1864.  It  happened  in 
this  wise :  I  left  Plymouth  in  company  with  Sergt. 
Camp,  April  3d,  for  Washington,  D.  C.  Having  fin 
ished  our  business,  we  received  orders  to  return  on  the 
14th.  We  left  Washington  the  same  day,  expecting  to 
reach  Plymouth  on  the  night  of  the  16th,  or  on  the  follow- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  125 

ing  morning,  but  owing  to  the  failure  of  connection  at 
Norfolk,  of  about  an  hour,  with  the  Chesapeake  and 
Albemarle  Line  connecting  Norfolk  with  Roanoke  Island, 
we  were  detained  at  Norfolk  until  the  following  Monday, 
April  18th,  the  day  after  Plymouth  was  attacked. 

"We  were  joined  at  Norfolk  by  Tom  McGuire  and 
Parmlee,  who  had  been  left  behind  at  that  point,  sick,  on 
their  return  from  their  veteran  furlough. 

"  On  reaching  Roanoke  Island,  we  found  that  we  were 
just  one  hour  too  late  to  reach  Plymouth,  as  the  ram 
came  down  the  river  that  night,  and  cut  off  all  further 
communication  with  the  place  from  our  transports.  We, 
however,  were  ignorant  of  this,  and  proceeded  by  the 
'  Massasoit,'  to  join  the  Battery  at  Plymouth.  When 
about  midway  of  the  Sound,  however,  we  hailed  one  of 
the  gunboats,  having  on  board  the  body  of  Capt.  Flusser, 
and  learned  the  situation  of  the  garrison.  We  steamed 
on,  notwithstanding,  and  joined  our  fleet,  now  lying  in 
Chowan  Bay,  where  we  remained  all  night.  On  the 
morning  of  the  30th,  we  steamed  up  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Roanoke,  and  there,  during  the  day,  helped  off  refugees 
and  some  escaped  prisoners  who  had  found  their  way  to 
that  point. 

"  At  night  we  were  transferred  to  a  propeller  that  had 
been  trading  in  those  waters,  together  with  those  picked 
up  day  by  day,  and  several  enlisted  men  that  had  arrived 
from  New  Berne  that  day,  belonging  to  the  Battery. 
Were  sent  back  to  Roanoke  Island,  then  under  command 
of  Lieut. -Col.  Clarke,  Eighty-fifth  New  York  Volunteers. 

"  On  reporting  to  Col.  Clarke,  Sergt.  Camp  was  de 
tailed  to  the  quartermaster's  department,  where  he  re- 


126  RECORDS    OF   THE 

mained  until  he  received  his  commission,  in  the  following 
February,  I  think.  This  left  me  in  command  of  our 
squad,  which  consisted  of  the  two  veterans  above  named 
and  five  recruits,  and  with  them  I  was  ordered  to  report 
to  Capt.  Barn  urn,  of  the  Sixteenth  Connecticut  Volun 
teers,  stationed  at  Fort  Reno. 

"  Here  I  remained  for  nearly  a  week,  when  I  was  de 
tailed  to  report  at  headquarters,  as  clerk  to  the  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general,  and  in  which  place  I  remained 
until  about  the  first  of  June,  1865.  During  these  months 
I  had  the  opportunity  of  rendering  some  assistance  to 
those  self-denying  ladies  who  were  sent  as  teachers  to  the 
contrabands,  as  it  was  my  privilege  to  do  to  some  extent 
at  Plymouth.  I  will  mention  another  incident,  which 
was  of  interest  to  me — a  thing  which  comparatively  few 
saw  while  in  the  army — a  revival  of  religion,  in  which 
many  were  hopefully  converted,  both  officers  and  enlisted 
men. 

"  I  shall  not  soon  forget  the  testimony  of  one  of  the 
Anderson ville  prisoners,  who  had  returned  for  duty  with 
his  regiment.  In  speaking  of  the  change  he  experiences 
in  becoming  a  Christian,  he  said  in  words,  as  near  as  I 
can  recall  them :  '  I  have  been,  as  you  know,  for  some 
months  a  prisoner,  in  the  hands  of  the  Rebels  at  Ander 
son  ville,  and  I  thought  while  descending  the  river  to  the 
point  onr  exchange  boat  was  stationed  at,  as  I  first  caught 
sight  of  the  old  Stars  and  Stripes,  that  it  was  the  hap 
piest  moment  of  my  life ;  but  I  can  assure  you  that  this 
comparison  but  feebly  expresses  the  joy  which  I  now  feel 
in  becoming  a  child  of  God.' 

"I  was  appointed  corporal,  October  llth,  1862,  and 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BA1TERY.  127 

was  mustered  out  as  such  at  the  expiration  of  my  term 
of  service. 

"  Since  my  retirement  from  the  service  I  have  resided 
in  New  York  City  for  three  years,  as  a  student  of  The 
ology,  at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  spending  my  va 
cations,  however,  out  of  the  city.  My  first  vacation, 
during  the  Summer  of  1866,  was  spent  as  an  agent  of 
the  Freedman's  Union  Commission,  and  canvassed  Rock- 
land  Co.,  IS".  Y.,  collecting  funds  in  behalf  of  that  cause. 
During  the  vacation  of  1867,  I  preached  as  stated  supply 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Stanhope,  N.  J.,  having 
been  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  April  13th,  1867. 

"  On  May  9th,  1868,  graduated  at  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  and  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  was  married 
to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Hoisington,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  H. 
R.  Hoisington,  many  years  a  missionary  of  the  American 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  for  several  years  principal 
of  the  Batticolla  Seminary,  Ceylon,  where  Mrs.  Stoddard 
was  born. 

"  In  June,  1868,  received  a  commission  to  labor  as  a 
home  missionary,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian 
Home  Mission  Committee.  I  was  sent  to  Holton,  Kan 
sas,  which  is  now  my  field  of  labor,  and  present  address." 

188.  STORMS,  THOMAS  S.— Enlisted  at  Tarrytown,  No 
vember  6th,  1861.     Was  in  the  Battery.     Discharged, 
we  believe,  on  account  of  some  physical  inability,  and  is 
now  living  in  Tarrytown. 

189.  SUNDERLAND,    CHAS. — Enlisted    at    Rochester, 
September  20th,  1864.     Joined  the  Battery,  November 
9th,  1864,  at  Roanoke. 


128  RECORDS    OF    THE 

He  enlisted  for  the  108th  Regiment  Infantry,  but  was 
"  lost  in  the  wilderness,"  and  the  Battery  claimed  him. 

190.  SUNFIELD,   JAMES,   Rochester,   ."N".    Y. — Enlisted 
October  9th,  1861.    Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  at  Plymouth, 
in  January,  1864. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  sent  to  Ander- 
sonville.  He  was  one  of  those  fortunate  few  who  mirac 
ulously  escaped  from  the  jaws  of  death. 

He  was  reported  as  "absent  at  College  Green  Bar 
racks,  Annapolis."  We  have  been  told  that  he  now  lives 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

191.  THATER,  LEWIS  P. — Enlisted  at  Rochester,  Octo 
ber  4th,  1864,  for  one  year.    Joined  at  Roanoke,  Novem 
ber  9th,  1864.    Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

192.  TILTON,  HENRY,  Moscow. — Enlisted  August  29th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 
,     Promoted  corporal  about  October,  1863. 

Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Ander 
son  ville  Hospital,  of  gangrene,  October  18th,  1864. 

Tilton  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  entered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States.  We  believe  he  was  the 
second  one  to  go,  and  the  second  one  to  die.  His  brother 
had  told  him  of  severe  war  experience,  but  that  did  not 
deter  him.  When  in  his  father's  store  his  associates  and 
he  consulted  over  the  proposition  to  go,  and  go  together, 
he  was  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  of  the  plan.  It 
required  much  persuasion  to  gain  his  mother's  assent  (for 


t 

TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  129 

she  could  realize,  perhaps  far  better  than  he,  the  possible 
sufferings  that  he  might  endure),  yet,  full  of  enthusiasm, 
and  full  of  an  earnest  conviction  that  he  was  needed,  he 
did  gain  it.  And  we  know,  too,  that  another  dear  one 
protested  and  pleaded ;  but  the  firm  resolve  of  a  convicted 
mind  gained  the  mastery  over  the  heart,  and  he  bade 
them  all  a  "  good  bye,"  satisfied  that  he  had  done  right. 
An  impression  has  been  given  to  his  friends  that  his  suf 
ferings  from  the  disease  of  which  he  died,  were  extremely 
painful  and  severe.  This  is  not  true.  The  writer  knows 
better  than  anybody  else,  because  he  constantly  attended 
him,  and  had  different  physicians  to  visit  him.  Scorbu- 
tis  made  its  appearance  in  his  face.  While  he  remained 
in  the  stockade,  this  disorder  received  little  or  no  atten 
tion.  A  large  ulcer  formed  in  the  cheek.  He  affirmed 
that  he  had  no  sensation  of  pain  from  it,  .and  that  it  was 
callous  to  the  touch.  When  he  reached  the  hospital  and 
found  friends,  was  decently  clothed,  comfortably  shel 
tered,  and  had  received  some  palatable  food,  he  volun 
teered  the  remark  that  "  He  should  soon  get  well,  now 
that  he  could  get  something  to  eat." 

He  had  been  in  the  hospital  once  before,  and  had  been 
returned  to  the  stockade  as  well.  We  believe  that  the 
cause  of  his  deatli  was  not  gangrene,  but  debility,  arising 
from  want  of  food  and  want  of  shelter,  before  it  was  too 
late.  He  received  all  the  comforts  that  his  several 
friends  were  enabled  to  give,  for  all  of  which  he  was  very 
grateful.  We  hoped  to  save  him,  but  he  was  too  far 
gone.  Upon  making  the  usual  morning  visit  to  his  tent, 
after  he  had  been  there  a  few  days,  we  found  that  his 
'soul  had  passed  quietly  away  during  the  night. 
9 


130  RECORDS    OF    THE 

The  gracious  God,  who  had  given  him  rest  in  slumber, 
had  carried  him  from  that  sleep  to  the  eternal  sleep  which 
knows  no  waking.  Will  there  not  be  rest  in  heaven  for 
such  a  wearied,  suffering  martyr  ? 

193.  TIRRELL,  SAMUEL. — Enlisted  at  Leicester,  January 
5th,  1864.     Reached  Plymouth  in  time  to  participate  in 
the  battle,  and  be  taken  prisoner. 

Ferguson  writes  that  "  Tirrell  died  at  Florence,  S.  C." 

194.  TRUAIR,  O.  M.,  Mount  Morris. — Enlisted  Septem 
ber  4th,  1862. 

Quaker.     Died  or  was  discharged. 

195.  TURNER,  ROBERT,  New  Hartford,  N.  Y. — Enlisted 
November  22d,  1862. 

He  came  on  to  Newport  Barracks  with  Lieut.  Hastings, 
having  left  Hamilton  College  in  order  to  enter  the 
service. 

He  was  unusually  bright  and  active,  impulsively 
generous  and  kind,  and  very  popular  with  the  members 
of  the  Battery.  So  anxious  was  he  to  participate  in  a  battle, 
that  he  used  his  strongest  persuasive  qualities  with  the 
officers  to  permit  him  to  go  with  the  section  which  was 
selected  for  the  march  to  Tvinston,  Goldsboro'  and 
Whitehall.  He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Whitehall. 

The  following  account  is  given  in  "  The  Wyoming 
Times  "  : 

"  Monday  morning  the  army  re-crossed  the  bridge,  it  was  a  long, 
large  bridge.  Robert  Turner,  from  Owego,  had  charge  of  men  de 
tached  from  the  different  batteries,  to  clear  the  town  of  stragglers, 
and  send  them  forward  to  prepare  material,  and  make  preparations 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  131 

for  burning  the  bridge  and  set  fire  to  it.  He  accomplished  the  deed 
promptly,  and  received  the  approval  of  the  Colonel.  * 
(We  believe  this  was  the  bridge  on  which  Colonel  Clark,  of  the  Ninety- 
sixth  New  York,  was  shot  and  killed.)  At  the  battle  of  Whitehall, 
Turner  was  standing  at  the  head  of  a  horse,  when  he  was  struck  by  a 
fragment  of  a  shell,  killing  him  instantly.  The  missile  passed 
through  his  body  near  the  heart.  He  was  buried  in  his  overcoat  and 
blanket,  even  in  the  din  and  smoke  of  battle. 

"  He  was  a  great  favorite  with  all  the  men,  and  sad  hearts  gathered 
round  his  lonely  grave.  A  short  prayer  was  said,  and  there  was  just 
time  to  fill  the  grave  as  the  command  was  given  to  '  forward.'  " 

196.  VAN   BUREN,    SYLVESTER. — Enlisted    February 
15th,  1864. 

He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  was  sent  to 
Andersonville. 

197.  WARDWELLJ  EDWARD  H.,  New  Hartford,  JSL  Y.— 
•Joined  for    duty,    September    20th,    1862.     Promoted 

second  lieutenant,  April  15th,  1863. 

Eesigned,  August  30th,  1864. 

Transferred  to  Signal  Corps  and  absent  from 
Plymouth. 

198.  WASHINGTON,  GEORGE,  colored  cook. — Enlisted  at 
Plymouth,    May  llth,  1863.     Lieutenant    Camp   says : 
"He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  April  20th,  1864. 
Put  under  guard  and  set  at  work  collecting  stores  and 
carrying  them  into  Fort  William. 

"  While  at  work,  the  third  day  after  capture,  he  gave 
the  guard  the  slip,  by  jumping  over  the  parapet  into  the 
ditch,  near  our  quarters,  thence  into  the  swamp,  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  town,  where  he  found  a  canoe,  with  a 


132  RECORDS    OF   THE 

gun  in  it,  which  some  person  had  left  and  gone  ashore 
from.  He  got  into  it,  paddled  out  into  the  creek, 
thence  to  the  river,  thence  up  the  river,  past  the  Fort 
and  down  Middle  river,  picking  up  in  the  swamp,  oppo 
site  Plymouth,  two  refugees,  ~N.  Carolinians,  and  brought 
up  safe  and  sound  with  our  fleet,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river.  Joined  the  company  at  Roanoke,  and  for  some 
misdemeanor  was  sent  for  trial  to  New  Berne,  there  got 
out  and  went  on  board  steamer  as  coal  heaver.  From 
George,  Lieutenant  Camp  got  the  first  report  of  the  killed 
and  wounded,  and  fate  of  the  Battery,  in  general,  which 
he  conveyed  by  letter  to  anxious  friends  at  Perry." 

199.  WAYNE,  JOSEPH,  Hamlin,  !N".  Y. — Joined  for  duty 
October  23d,  1861. 

Discharged  from  hospital  in  June^l862. 

200.  WELCH,  EDWARD,  Perry. — Enlisted,  August  27th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and 
died  at  Andersonville  Hospital,  of  chronic  diarrhoea, 
August  8th,  1864. 

The  number  of  his  grave  is  5,181. 

Welch  was  one  of  the  hardiest  men  in  the  Battery. 
Once  or  twice  before  he  was  taken  prisoner,  he  had  been 
attacked  with  fever  and  ague,  but  under  any  ordinary 
endurance  he  doubtless  would  have  survived  many 
others. 

His  death  was  quiet,  and  somewhat  unexpected  to  us 
all. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  133 

201.  WELLER,  JACOB  H.,  Cuylerville. — Enlisted  Au 
gust  28th,  1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 
Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  April  20th,  1864,  and 
was  sent  to  Anderson ville. 

202.  WETMORE,  CHAUNCEY,  Hague. — Joined  for  duty, 
September  28th,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  at  Plymouth,  in  January,  1864,  and  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  at  Andersonville  some  time,  and 
was  finally  removed  to  Florence,  where  he  died. 

Phelan  thinks  that  he  died  at  Andersonville. 

203.  WHITNEY,   HAMILTON   S.,    Albany. — Joined    for 
duty,  November  16th,  1861. 

Ee-enlisted  at  Plymouth.  Was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Owens,  while  on  his  veteran  furlough.  Taken  prisoner 
at  Plymouth.  He  lived  through  the  imprisonment  and 
was  exchanged,  December  15th,  1864.  He  was  mustered 
out  with  Ferguson,  W.  Carnahan,  and  Holman,  at  Syra 
cuse,  July  7th,  1865. 

Present  address,  Johnstown,  N.  Y. 

204.  WHITNEY,  W.  A.,  Wellsville.— Joined  for  duty, 
November  21st,  1861. 

Re-enlisted  in  January,  1864,  at  Plymouth. 
Appointed  bugler.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1864. 

205.  WHITBECK,  HENRY,  Hamlin. — Joined  for  duty, 
October  23d,  1861. 

He  died  in  January,  1862,  in  Washington,  of  the 
measles.  It  was  the  first  death  in  the  organization. 


134  RECORDS    Otf   THE 

206.  WILLIAMS,  OLIVER,  Perry. — Enlisted  August  26th, 
1862. 

Mustered  in  at  Buffalo,  August  30th,  1862. 

Promoted  corporal  in  December,  1862. 

Promoted  sergeant. 

For  a  short  time  acted  as  orderly  sergeant. 

Was  in  command  of  a  section  of  the  artillery  at  the 
battle  of  Plymouth.  Was  taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth, 
and  died  at  Andersonville  Hospital,  of  intermittent  fever, 
July  24th,  1862.  The  number  of  his  grave  is  3,947. 

Williams'  enlistment  in  the  Battery  was  not  his  first 
attempt  to  add  his  name  to  those  who  responded  so 
promptly  to  the  call  of  their  country  ;  so  thoroughly  was 
he  convinced  of  his  duty,  so  firmly  fixed  in  his  determi 
nation  to  go,  that  neither  argument,  persuasion,  nor  tears, 
availed  aught  against  his  decision.  Dear  were  the  ties 
that  bound  him  to  his  home — bright  were  his  future 
prospects,  should  he  remain  ;  but  what  were  these,  when 
his  duty  was  clearly  demonstrated  to  his  mind,  and  he 
sawT  those  who  had  been  his  friends  and  associates  from 
his  early  childhood,  gathering  around  the  standard. 

He  proved  to  be  a  man  of  worth,  in  the  vocation  of  a 
soldier — he  was  fearless  and  proficient — his  duties  were 
promptly  and  satisfactorily  completed — and  as  he  showed 
his  worth,  he  was  promoted. 

His  section  at  the  battle  of  Plymouth  did  good  service, 
although  they  were  among  the  first  that  were  captured, 
or  rather  overwhelmed.  He  was  sent  to  Andersonville 
Hospital  from  the  Stockade,  with  a  squad  of  sick  men  ; 
his  friends  found  him,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death, 
he  was  well  cared  for. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  135 

We  are  aware,  from  conversations  with  him  a  few  days 
prior  to  his  death,  that  he  felt  that  he  would  not  recover. 
We  believed  he  would,  and  we  encouraged  him  to  think 
so  ;  but  intermittent  fever  is  an  insiduous  disease,  and  its 
victim,  one  day  seemingly  bright  and  improving,  passes 
away  the  next,  to  the  amazement  of  even  the  physicians 
themselves.  We  believe  that  Williams  was  prepared  to 
die,  and  was  resigned  to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father. 

207.  WILLIAMS,  THOMAS.— Enlisted  October  4th,  1864, 
at  Rochester.      Joined  at  Roanoke   Island,  November 
9th,  1864.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Artillery. 

208.  WINNE,  BARNETT  Y.  L.,  Albany,  K  Y.— Enlisted 
September  7th,  1364.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York 
Artillery,  May  25th,  1865.   Joined  for  duty  at  Roanoke, 
October  17th,  1864. 

209.  WOOD,  EMMETT,  Moscow. — Mustered  in  at  Buffalo, 
August  30th,  1 862.  Taken  prisoner  at  Plymouth,  and  died 
at  Andersonville  Stockade,  of  chronic  diarrhoea  (so  said), 
September  1st,  1864.    The  number  of  his  grave  is  7,581. 

With  others,  Wood  at  one  time  endeavored  to  make 
his  escape.  They  succeeded  in  getting  away  from  the 
hospital,  but  the  flight  was  discovered  in  the  morning, 
and  the  dogs  were  put  on  the  track.  The  hounds  over 
took  the  party,  and  Wood  had  a  portion  of  his  ear  torn 
off  by  them. 

He  recovered  from  this  after  he  was  brought  back, 
but  he  was  placed  in  the  stockade,  arid  of  course  he  was 
a  marked  man  after  this ;  consequently  he  undoubtedly 
was  denied  many  things  that  were  furnished  to  others. 


136  RECORDS    OF   THE 

210.  WOOLSEY,  JOHN. — He  writes  :  "  I  enlisted  in  New 
York  City,  November  18th,  1861.  Was  mustered  in 
about  the  1st  of  December,  1861. 

"  We  were  to  be  armed  with  '  Congreve  Rockets,' 
and  were  led  to  believe  they  were  a  very  effective  weapon. 
Our  commander.  Major  Lion  (in  a  speech  he  made  to  us 
at  Albany),  told  us  that  they  were  used  with  great  effect 
in  the  Mexican  War,  one  going  a  mile  out  of  its  way  to 
kill  a  Mexican.  (I  have  no  doubt  it  struck  a  mile  from 
the  object  it  was  aimed  at.)  Early  in  December  we  were 
ordered  to  Washington,  where  we  were  encamped  about 
a  mile  from  the  Capitol.  There  we  received  the  long- 
expected  '  Eocket  Guns.' 

"  We  took  them  over  to  the  east  branch  of  the  Potomac 
to  try  them ;  we  expected  to  see  wonders  (as  we  had 
been  told  that,  with  a  little  practice,  a  flagstaff  could  be 
hit  five  miles  off).  An  artillery  blanket  was  hung  up 
for  a  target,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  distant.  While 
we  were  shooting  at  it,  some  cold-blooded  scamp  stole 
the  blanket.  The  rockets  were  balkey;  like  a  mule, 
they  would  go  any  way  but  the  right  way.  That  night 
rocket  stock  was  low  in  camp.  The  next  day  they  were 
returned  to  the  armory,  and  we  received  three  inch  rifled 
guns. 

"  One  of  our  officers  is  worthy  of  mention  :  during 
that  winter  he  used  to  appear  on  the  parade  ground  at 
the  morning  drill  with  his  head  in  a  woolen  tippet,  his 
pants  in  his  socks,  and  his  toes  in  a  pair  of  slippers.  He 
would  watch  the  drill,  and  seeing  something  wrong,  he 
would  rip  out  a  volley  of  orders,  at  the  same  time  point 
ing  a  clay  pipe  at  us  in  such  a  manner,  that  if  Barnum 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  137 

or  Dan  Rice  could  have  seen  and  heard  him,  his  fortune 
wmld  have  been  made.  The  name  of  Rathbone  was 
frequently  heard  to  echo  through  the  camp. 

"  At  the  battle  of  Plymouth,  while  loading  the  gun, 
in  order  to  give  the  near  approaching  rebels  a  last  shot, 
I  was  hit  in  the  right  thigh  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  and  a 
few  seconds  after  was  shot  through  the  right  arm  with  a 
musket  ball,  breaking  it  so  badly  that  a  part  of  the  lower 
bone  had  to  be  removed,  which  makes  me  partly  a 
cripple,  and  I  now  receive  a  pension  of  eight  dollars  per 
month. 

"  I  remained  a  prisoner  at  Plymouth  about  two  weeks, 
when  I  was  sent  to  Weldon  by  boat.  I  was  then  too 
weak  from  fever  and  inflammation  to  stir  (except  my 
tongue).  I  was  put  in  a  mule  wagon,  with  a  darkey  on 
one  mule,  and  started  for  the  Raleigh  depot.  We  had 
to  cross  about  a  dozen  switches  quartering.  I  repeatedly 
invited  the  darkey,  in  very  strong  terms,  to  drive  slowly, 
but  the  more  I  urged  him,  the  louder  he  sung  to  the 
mules,  '  Get  up  there,  what  I  feed  you  for  !'  He  un 
doubtedly  enjoyed  that  ride  better,  and  will  forget  it 
sooner  than  I  shall.  At  Raleigh  I  had  the  erysipelas  in 
my  arm,  and  should  probably  have  died  but  for  the  at-  t 
tention  of  friends.  In  June  I  was  sent  to  Salisbury; 
there  were  not  many  prisoners  until  October,  when  about 
11,000  were  sent  there.  The  scenes  of  that  Winter  you 
are  probably  familiar  with.  I  there  met  a  man  named 
Ainsworth,  a  brother  to  Rufus  and  William.  I  do  not 
know  whether  he  lived  to  get  home  or  not. 

"  On  February  22d,  1865,  I  started  for  Wilmington  to 
be  paroled.  Walked  from  Salisbury  to  Greensborough 


138  RECORDS    01*   THE 

(fifty  miles),  on  the  railroad  track ;  signed  my  parole  at 
Goldsborough,  March  1st,  and  marched  into  our  lines  at 
Wilmington,  the  2d.  Was  sent  to  Parole  Camp  at  An 
napolis,  where  I  was  sick  in  the  Hospital  for  a  time, 
When  I  entered  the  hospital  I  put  $80  (that  I  had  just 
received  as  ration  money)  in  a  safe  that  was  kept  for  the 
purpose  by  the  surgeon.  When  I  went  after  it  I  was 
told  that  one  of  the  clerks  had  run  away  with  $5,000, 
mine  among  the  rest.  I  have  been  unable  to  learn 
whether  he  ever  stopped  running  or  not.  I  did  not  re- 
enlist,  and  my  time  had  been  out  since  November,  and  I 
was  ordered  to  Albany;  to  be  discharged.  I  proceeded 
there,  and  after  waiting  a  month,  was  mustered  out  May 
3d,  1865.  Since  that  time  I  have  been  on  a  farm  in 
Westchester  County,  New  York,  until  last  Fall,  when  I 
came  to  Iowa,  and  have  been  teaching  school  in  Cres 
cent,  Pottawottomie  County,  this  Winter ;  but  I  intend 
to  return  to  New  York  in  a  couple  of  weeks.  I  have 
thus  far  been  unable  to  find  any  one  that  is  willing  to  be 
the  wife  of  a  crippled  soldier." 

Present  address,  Bedford,  Westchester  County,  N.  Y. 

211.  WOOLSEY,  ETTING,  Albany,  N.  Y. — Enlisted  Sep 
tember  Tth,  1864.     Transferred  to  Third  New  York  Ar 
tillery,  May  25th,  1865.     Joined  at  Koanoke,  October 
1st,  1864. 

212.  WRIGHT,  GEORGE  G.,  Hamlin,  N.  Y. — Joined  for 
duty,  November  9th,  1861.     Ee-enlisted  at  Plymouth, 
January  1st,  1864. 

Was  promoted  corporal,  and  retained  this  position  un- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  139 

til  he  was  mustered  out.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
sent  to  Andersonville.  Was  paroled  for  exchange  in 
November,  1864.  Joined  the  Battery  again  for  duty, 
April  12th,  1865.  Was  mustered  out  with  the  remnant 
of  the  Battery,  in  Company  "  L,"  of  the  Third  New 
York  Artillery. 

We  have  heard  that  his  present  address  is  Rochester, 
X.  Y.  ' 

213.  YANCER,  J.  D. — Joined  for  duty,  February  8th, 
1864.  Reached  Plymouth  in  time  to  be  taken  prisoner, 
and  was  sent  to  Andersonville.  Mosier  writes  that— 
"  Yancer  died  at  Andersonville,  August  15th,  1864." 


140  RECORDS  OF  THE 


CHAPTEE  I. 

1861. 

THE   KOCKET   BATTALION. 

In  the  local  columns  of  the  Wyoming  Times,  under 
date  of  September  27th,  1861,  we  find  the  following  para 
graph  : 

Meetings  and  speeches  in  favor  of  the  war  we  had  supposed 
"  played  out."  Action,  ACTION,  is  now  the  word.  All  are  enlight 
ened  on  the  subject  of  the  war,  or  ought  to  be. 

Monday  evening,  however,  another  meeting  was  held,  called  by 
Messrs.  Wyckoff,  Lee  and  Page,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  recruits 
for  a  company  of  artillery. 

Prof.  Atkins  was  called  to  the  chair ;  whereupon  Jay  E.  Lee 
Esq.,  stated  it  was  their  purpose  to  organize  an  artillery  company 
to  be  attached  to  G.  D.  Bailey's  regiment,  and  enlarged  at  some 
length  upon  the  advantage  of  this  branch  of  the  service  over  all 
others. 

He  was  followed  by  Harry  C.  Page,  Prof.  Atkins,  Rev.  Mr.  Tom- 
linson,  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Page,  Judge  Oilman,  N.  P.  Currier  and 
Philander  Simmons  ;  after  which  an  opportunity  was  given  to  enlist. 

The  result  of  this  meeting  was  a  response  from  about 
fifty  men  to  the  call,  who  pledged  themselves  to  the 
organization  proposed.  For  some  reason,  which  we  are 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  141 

unable  to  explain,  only  twenty  of  this  number  kept  their 
faith.  A  correspondent,  over  the  nomme  de  plume  of 
"  Drummer,"  writes  to  the  Times  under  date  of  October 
29th,  1861: 

Most  of  your  readers  are  perhaps  aware  that  some  fifty  indi 
viduals  signed  their  names  to  the  roll  at  Perry,  and  were  expected 
to  go  with  the  company,  in  addition  to  those  whom  we  expected 
to  join  us  from  Monroe  County.  Well,  on  the  morning  of  our  de 
parture  we  could  find  but  twenty  persons  prepared  to  go.  Never 
theless,  according  to  previous  announcement,  we  took  the  cars  at 
Castile  last  Friday  morning  for  Buffalo,  with  the  understanding,  if 
we  found  our  Monroe  friends  on  hand  and  a  fair  prospect  of  filling  up 
our  company  soon,  we  would  be  sworn  in  and  organize  ;  otherwise, 
we  should  return. 

At  Buffalo  we  met  twenty  hearty  and  determined  men,  and,  after 
looking  the  ground  over,  were  mustered  in.  Every  man  who  went 
with  us,  except  Wyckoff,  was  sworn  in. 

*#*#•**•** 

We  were  sorry  to  lose  Mr.  Wyckoff,  but,  as  we  had  so  few  men, 
we  could  not  ask  for  both  captain  and  first  lieutenant ;  Mr.  Wyckoff, 
therefore,  though  urged  to  remain,  reluctantly  withdrew.  "  If  I  can 
not  bring  more  than  twenty  men,"  said  he,  "  and  not  half  those  men 
care  whether  I  go  or  not.  I  shall  not  stay."  That  he  did  not  go  with 
us  as  captain  is  the  fault  of  those  who  signed  and  failed  to  go.  If  we 
had  gone  to  Buffalo  with  forty  men,  Mr.  W.  would  have  been  captain. 

Having  completed  the  organization,  the  company  re 
mained  at  the  recruiting  head-quarters — Fort  Porter, 
Buffalo — until  about  the  middle  of  November.  They 
then  left  for  Albany  with  56  men.  While  at  this  post, 
Major  Thomas  W.  Lion,  ex-English  army  officer,  inventor 
of  the  wonderful  fire-rocket,  &c.,  &c.,  introduced  himself 
to  their  notice.  He  desired  to  form  a  battalion,  to  use  this 
rocket  in  the  field.  A  consolidation  of  several  squads  of 
recruits,  occupying  the  barracks  at  Albany,  then  formed 


142  RECORDS    OF    THE 

THE  ROCKET  BATTALION. 

Major — Thomas  W.  Lion. 

Company  A.  Company  B. 

Captain — A.  Ransom.  Captain — Jay  E.  Lee. 

1st.  Lieut.— H.  W.  Dodge.  1st  Lieut.— L.  A.  Cady. 

2d  Lieut.— Samuel  Hoddy,  Jr.  3d  Lieut.— G.  W.  Graham. 

The  battalion  consisted  of  160  men,  equally  divided 
between  the  two  companies. 

We  are,  however,  only  interested  in  the  history  of 
Company  B.  The  non-commissioned  officers  appointed 
at  that  time  in  this  company  were  : 

Mark  Andrews,  Orderly  Serg't.  H.  C.  Page,  Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Wm.  W.  Crooker,  1st  Duty  Serg.  Rufus  Ainsworth,  3d  Duty  Serg. 

Solon  Rowell,         2d      "      "  Robert  Bullock,      4th    " 

Charles  A.  Clark,  1st  Corporal.  Gustavus  Barker,  5th  Corporal. 

Chas.  R.  Griffith,    2d        "  L.  J.  Sanford,        6th 

Franklin  D.  Otis,    3d        "  G.  W.  Kellogg,     7th 

Geo.  B.  Johnson,    4th      "  Francis  Leonard,  8th        " 

Hjctor  C.  Martin,  Bugler.  L.  Newcomb,  Bugler. 
Albert  Richards,  Artificer. 

In  December,  the  battalion  received  orders  to  report  in 
Washington.  Leaving  Albany,  December  7th,  they  pro 
ceeded  on  the  steamer  New  World  down  the  Hudson  to 
New  York.  Were  detained  a  day  or  two  at  the  Park 
Barracks  at  New  York  City,  and  departed  thence  by 
railroad  to  Washington.  There  they  went  into  camp  on 
the  artillery  grounds,  east  of  the  CapitoL  There  were 
few  incidents  connected  with  this  trip  that  would  be  of 
sufficient  interest  to  relate.  Just  before  reaching  New 
York  a  fog  enveloped  them,  and  the  steamer  ran  aground, 
and  they  were  delayed  some  time.  A  discovery  of  some 
country  produce  among  the  freight  packages  of  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  143 

steamer,  furnished  the  boys  with  a  dessert  for  their  haver 
sack  dinner.  The  short  stay  in  New  York  gave  them  an 
opportunity  to  do  some  sight  seeing,  and  we  judge  that 
one  of  their  number  had  "  seen"  a  good  deal,  when  he 
stepped  into  a  millinery  store  and  told  the  smiling  young 
lady  attendant,  writh  his  most  winning  manner,  that  he 
"  thought  he  would  take  a  whiskey  sour."  The  young  lady 
assured  him  that  they  kept  nothing  sour,  but  he  would 
doubtless  find  it  next  door.  "By  George,  I  thought  this  was 
the  right  church,  but  I  guess  I  am  in  the  wrong  pew,"  was 
his  remark  to  himself  in  sotto  voc&,  as  he  made  a  hasty 
exit. 

The  Wyoming  Times'  regular  .correspondent,  "  Quar 
termaster  "  (Harry  C.  Page),  writes  under  date  of  Janu 
ary  6,  1862 : 


I  said  we  left  Albany,  December  7th.  In  New  York  we  were  en 
tertained  at  the  Park  Barracks,  where  we  all  slept  for  the  first  time,  I 
doubt  not,  with  the  "gates  open."  A  more  vile  and  miserable  den  men 
cannot  be  packed  into.  It  is  the  "Elysium  of  Loaferdom."  I  wonder 
if  there  will  be  any  improvement  under  the  new  Mayor.  Fortunately 
our  stay  in  New  York  was  brief.  [The  condition  of  Park  Barracks 
was  directly  the  reverse  of  this  description  in  the  Fall  of  1862. — ED.] 
On  the  evening  of  the  9th,  we  took  the  cars  for  Philadelphia,  where, 
at  iridnight,  we  partook  of  a  splendid  repast,  prepared  by  the  ladies  of 
that  hospitable  city,  who,  we  were  informed,  had  in  like  manner  ap 
peased  the  appetites  of  100,000  soldiers  since  the  war  began.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  a  train  bringing  troops  a  gun  is  fired,  and  whatever  be 
the  hour,  day  or  night,  a  committee  of  ladies  repair  from  their  dwell 
ings  to  the  room  prepared  for  that  purpose,  to  serve  out  warm  coffee 
and  other  food  to  the  soldiers.  There  we  took  the  cars  for  Baltimore, 
and  few  of  us,  as  we  marched  through  the  streets  of  that  city,  but 
thought,  I  fancy,  how  different  was  our  reception  from  that  of  the 


144  RECORDS    OF    THE 

Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  which,  on  the  19th  of  April  last,  on 
its  way  to  defend  the  capital  of  the  nation,  was  assaulted  by  an  infu 
riated  and  misguided  populace. 

*#**-x--x-#* 

We  reached  Washington,  December  10th. 

•X--X-****** 

We  copy  from  the  Brockport  Republican  a  brief 
sketch,  from  the  pen  of  Captain  Lee,  of  this  portion  of 
their  trip  : 

The  contrast  between  our  welcome  in  Baltimore  and  that  of  some 
of  the  first  troops  that  passed  through  there  was  most  striking  ;  in 
deed,  our  journey  all  through  Maryland  was  a  complete  ovation.  The 
women  and  children,  of  all  classes  and  descriptions,  hurrahed,  waved 
flags,  handkerchiefs  and  petticoats.  A  few  in  Baltimore  looked 
savage  and  muttered. 

It  seemed  strange  to  me  that  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  and 
Baltimore  should  pay  us  so  much  attention.  They  greeted  us  as  warmly 
and  entertained  us  as  generously,  as  though  we  were  the  first  soldiers 
who  had  passed  through  their  cities,  and  as  though  we  were  the  sole 
saviors  of  the  country. 


TWENTY-FOURTH     NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  145 


CHAPTEE    II. 

1862. 

THE   ROCKET. 

It  was  a  "  fizzle  "-—yet  it  was  an  invention,  or  claimed 
to  be  one.     It  had  a  man  of  brass  in  Major  Lion,  to 
place  it  before  the   Secretary  of  War   and   the    Chief 
of  Artillery — so  plausible  was  the  theory,  that  the  ex- ' 
pense  of  sustaining  the  Battalion,  as  well  as  many  other 
expenses  were  incurred,  to  give  it  a  practical  test.     In 
the   editorial    of  the  "Wyoming  Times,  December    20, 
1861,  we  find  the  following,  probably  from  the  pen  of 
T.  S.  Gillet,  who  was  then  in  the  office  of  Secretary  of 
State,  at  Albany : 

Various  statements  have  appeared  in  the  papers  relative  to  the 
"  Rocket  Gun, "  and  none  precisely  alike,  yet  all  representing  this 
arm  of  the  service  as  a  most  terrible  one.  It  has  never  been  used  on 
this  Continent,  and  experienced  artillerists  have  never  seen  it.  The 
papers  and  Government  are  only  in  the  secret.  Its  principal  purpose 
appears  to  be  to  throw  forward  a  flame  of  fire  sufficiently  large  to 
frighten  horses  and  thus  throw  the  enemy's  cavalry  into  confusion. 
Of  course,  the  battalion  must  have  the  right  of  the  advancing  army, 
and  take  their  chances  of  having  their  '  Rockets '  silenced  by  the 
picked  riflemen  of  the  opposing  forces. 

The  "rocket"  gun  is  represented  as  being  a  breech-loading  field  piece, 
capable  of  discharging  bombs,  balls  and  percussion  shot  as  well  as 
rockets.  The  rockets  are  to  be  used  for  firing  buildings,  behind  which 

10 


146  RECORDS    OF   THE 

the  enemy  may  seek  shelter,  or  for  removing  by  fire  any  obstacle 
thrown  out  to  retard  the  advancement  of  the  troops.  The  expansive 
properties  of  the  rocket  are  wonderful,  creating  a  ball  of  fire  fifteen 
feet  in  diameter,  which  can  be  thrown  by  this  breech -loading  projectile 
5,300  yards,  or  over  three  miles ! 

It  is  stated  that  the  Government  has  purchased  the  exclusive  right 
of  manufacturing  this  terrible  instrument  of  destruction,  and  is  soon 
to  introduce  it  to  the  rebels. 

"  Quartermaster  "  furnishes  the  Wyoming  Times ,  of 
date  January  24th,  1 862,  a  more  elaborate  description  of 
these  instruments  of  war.  He  says  : 

I  will  give  you  an  imperfect  description  of  the  missile  and  its 
use — 

The  rockets  which  I  have  seen,  vary  from  twelve  to  twenty  in 
ches  in  length,  and  from  two  to  three  inches  in  diameter.  The  head 
is  conical  and  solid  iron,  from  two  to  three  inches  in  length,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  rocket.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  rocket  is  a 
hollow  iron  tube,  filled  with  a  highly  inflammable  compound,  which 
being  igniied  in  the  rear  or  tail  of  the  rocket  by  a  fuse,  gives  the 
weapon  its  impetus. 

The  composition  of  this  inflammable  substance  is  a  Government 
secret. 

To  form  some  idea  of  the  noise  and  force  which  they  made  when 
fired,  you  may  multiply  the  noise  and  fury  of  a  large  Fourth  of  July 
rocket  by  one  hundred.  We  have  made  but  one  experiment  with 
them  since  coming  here,  and  that  was  at  the  arsenal,  and  more  for 
the  purpose  of  testing  some  conductors  or  tubes  from  which  to  fire 
them,  than  the  rockets  themselves. 

The  tubes  we  used  were  of  two  patterns,  one  of  drawn  iron  with 
a  bore  of  three  inches,  and  the  other  by  uniting  three  three-quarter 
inch  rods  or  wires,  spirally,  fastened  by  strong  collars  or  bands,  leav 
ing  a  bore  or  tunnel  of  about  four  or  five  inches.  Both  were  placed 
on  a  stand  somewhat  similar  to  a  theodilite  stand.  The  rockets  used 
were  old  and  not  very  perfect,  yet  we  executed  some  very  satisfactory 
firing.  The  results  from  the  wire  tubes  were  most  satisfactory.  Two 
three-inch  rockets  fired  from  the  latter,  went  magnificently.  The 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY. 

tube  was  pointed  across  the  river  (Potomac),  diagonally,  at  an 
elevation  of  nearly  45° .  Away  went  the  fire  spitter,  out  of  sight,  and 
probably  found  a  grave  in  the  "  sacred  soil."  Turning  the  tube  down 
the  river,  at  the  same  elevation,  a  second  was  fired,  it  went  beautifully 
— direct  as  the  path  of  a  bullet — and  buried  itself  in  the  Potomac,  at 
a  distance  of  more  than  three  miles.  That  was  the  estimate  of 
General  Barry,  Major  Ramsey,  and  others  familiar  with  the  locality. 
The  rockets  we  are  to  have  for  active  service  are  a  decided  improve 
ment  on  those  we  used,  which  I  have  described. 

THe  head,  instead  of  being  solid,  will  be  hollow  and  filled  with  mus 
ket  balls  and  powder  and  exploded  by  a  time  fuse,  in  all  respects  similar 
to  a  "grapnel"  or  ''spherical  case  "  shot.  The  advantages  from  that 
improvement  are  palpable.  The  head  will  be  heavier  (on  account 
of  being  filled  with  lead,)  which  will  materially  add  to  the  direct 
ness  of  the  line  of  flight  and  to  the  distance.  Then  by  being  fired  by 
a  time  fuse,  it  can  be  exploded  at  any  time  or  place,  scattering  a 
storm  of  bullets  and  fragments  around.  Another  improvement  is  this  : 
the  tabes  or  case  containing  the  combustible  material  is  to  be  per 
forated  by  tangential,  spiral  holes,  from  which  the  fire  will  be  thrown 
with  great  force  and  fury,  giving  a  whirling  motion  to  the  missile, 
which  as  you  see,  will  also  assist  in  giving  directness  and  distance 
to  its  flight  as  well  as  scattering  fire  and  destruction  on  every  side. 

Our  organization  is  the  same  as  light  artillery.  We  shall  have 
gun  carriages  and  limbers,  followed  by  caissons.  But  instead  of 
mounting  one  gun  on  a  carriage,  we  shall  mount  four  rocket  tubes.  Our 
company  will  work  four  carriages  and  its  guns  or  tubes.  Just  think 
of  us  drawn  up  in  battery  before  a  regiment  of  cavalry  or  infantry. 
At  one  volley  we  could  send  into  their  midst  sixteen  rockets,  each 
rocket  spitting  fire,  fury  and  destruction  on  every  side,  and  carrying 
in  its  forehead  seventy-four  bullets,  ready  to  burst  from  their  shell  at 
just  the  desired  point,  and  scatter  death  in  every  direction. 

If  all- this  succeeds  in  the  field,  as  it  is  believed  it  will,  our  weapon 
will  be  terrible  in  its  execution,  and  we  a  terror  to  traitors. 

The  "  Rocket  guns,"  after  a  long  delay  of  nearly  four 
months,  were  turned  over  from  the  hands  of  the  inventor 
and  contractors  to  the  battalion.  "  Quartermaster " 
writes,  March  31,  1862  ; 


148  RECORDS    OF   THE 

We  have  been  encamped  here  nearly  four  months,  and  have  just  got 
our  guns.  The  principal  cause  of  the  delay  arose  from  the  fact  of  the 
guns  being  of  a  peculiar  construction,  and  we  were  therefore  obliged 
to  wait  for  their  manufacture.  They  have  at  length  arrived. 

The  carriages  are  lighter  than  those  of  light  artillery.  The  tube  is 
made  of  wrought  iron,  and  is  eight  feet  in  length,  with  a  bore  of  two 
and  a  quarter  inches.  The  tube  is  perforated  with  holes  about  one 
inch  in  diameter,  the  entire  length,  and  about  two  inches  apart. 

The  object  of  the  holes  is  to  permit  the  flame  to  escape  while  the 
rocket  is  passing  through  the  tube,which  might  otherwise  be  corroded- 
We  are  immediately  to  commence  experimenting  with  the  guns.  *  * 

Nothing  can  much  longer  delay  us,  unless  it  is  the  scarcity  of  horses. 

A  week  later,  he  writes  : 

I  wrote  you,  one.  week  ago,  that  we  had  received  our  rocket  guns. 
Since  then  we  have  had  our  horses.  Recent  experiments  with  the 
rocket  rendered  certain  their  perfect  success  and  immense  power  as  a 
weapon  of  warfare,  so  you  may  soon  expect  to  hear  from  us  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

May  12th,  1862,  he  writes,  in  transports  off  New 
Berne : 

We  made  some  experiments  with  the  rockets  shortly  before  we  left 
Washington.  They  hardly  came  up  to  the  expectations  of  the  author 
ities,  and  so  it  was  concluded,  as  Burnside  was  in  want  of  artillery,  to 
give  us  some  guns  and  send  us  on.  Consequently  our  quaint  rocket  car 
riages  were  exchanged  for  the  substantial  six-pounder  carriage,  and  our 
sheet  ironed  tubes  were  turned  into  rifled  cannon. 

This  closes  the  correspondence  on  that  interesting  sub 
ject,  the  "  rocket  gun." 

The  writer  has  had  many  conversations  with  the 
officers  and  members  of  the  Battalion  who  were  present 
at  the  trial  of  these  guns. 

The  fault  which  proved  too  great  to  overcome,  was 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  149 

the  uncertainty  of  direction  that  the  rocket  would  take.  It 
might  make  a  retrograde  movement.  It  might,  imme 
diately  on  its  leaving  the  mouth  of  the  tube,  take  a 
counter  direction  and  come  flying  into  the  midst  of  those 
who  fired  it.  A  body  moving  from  the  centre  of  a  circle, 
there  was  no  knowledge  of  the  radius  it  would  probably 
take  in  its  flight. 

The  rocket  used  was,  by  Major  Lions'  representation, 
an  improvement,  invented  by  Lion  himself,  upon  the 
Congreve  rocket. 

In  the  minds  of  those  best  acquainted  with  him,  I  find 
that  there  were  doubts  as  to  whether  he  knew  anything 
at  all  about  the  science  of  gunnery  or  of  this  projectile. 

In  the  text  book  on  "  Ordnance  and  Gunnery,"  by 
Colonel  J.  G.  Benton,  used  in  the  U.  S.  Military 
Academy,  this  short  history  of  Rockets  is  given  : 

Rockets  were  used  in  India  and  China,  for  war  purposes,  before  the 
discovery  of  gunpowder  ;  some  writers  fix  the  date  of  their  invention 
about  the  close  of  the  ninth  century.  Their  inferior  force  and  ac 
curacy  limited  the  sphere  of  their  operations  to  incendiary  purposes, 
until  the  year  1804,  when  Sir  William  Congreve  turned  his  attention 
to  their  improvement.  This  officer  substituted  sheet  iron  cases  for 
those  made  of  paper,  which  enabled  him  to  use  more  powerful  com 
position  ;  he  made  the  guide  stick  shorter  and  lighter,  and  removed  a 
source  of  inaccuracy  of  flight  by  attaching  the  stick  to  the  centre  of 
the  base  instead  of  the  side  of  the  case.  He  states  that  he  was  en 
abled  by  his  improvements  to  increase  the  range  of  six-pounder 
rockets  from  six  hundred  to  two  thousand  yards.  Under  his  direction 
they  were  prepared  and  used  successfully  at  the  seige  of  Boulogne, 
and  the  battle  of  Leipsic.  At  the  latter  place  they  were  served  by  a 
special  corps. 

The  advantages  claimed  for  rockets  over  cannon  are  unlimited  size 
of  projectile,  portability,  freedom  from  recoil,  rapidity  of  discharge,  and 
the  terror  wliich  their  noise  and  fiery  trail  produces  on  mounted  troops. 


150  RECORDS    OF   THE 

The  numerous  conditions  to  be  fulfilled  in  their  construction,  in 
order  to  obtain  accuracy  of  flight  and  the  uncertainty  of  preserving  the 
composition  uninjured  for  a  length  of  time  are  difficulties  not  yet 
entirely  overcome  and  which  have  much  restricted  their  usefulness  for 
general  military  purposes. 

From  tins  description  we  are  led  to  conclude  that 
there  was  some  ground  for  the  representations  of  Major 
Lion,  and  good  reasons  for  the  high  expectations  which 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  Battalion  had  in  a  probability 
of  becoming  "  the  pioneer  organization  of  this  wonderful 
arm  of  the  service." 

The  failure  did  not  certainly  arise  from  want  of  patri 
otism,  courage,  or  willingness  on  the  part  of  the  members 
of  the  Battalion. 


TWENTY-FOURTH   NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  151 


CHAPTEE    III. 

*     1862. 

BATTERY     B. 

Six  months  had  elapsed  while  these  experiments  on 
rockets  were  being  made. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  the  days  dragged  slowly  by 
with  those  who  had,  at  the  time  of  their  enlistment,  ex 
pected  immediate  active  duty. 

Six  months  of  settled  camp  life,  where  the  daily  rou 
tine  is  one  of  leisure,  is  very  likely  to  be  demoralizing  to 
any  company. 

Aside  from  a  little  foot  drill  and  sabre  exercise,  their 
time  was  unoccupied  by  regular  duties.  An  occasional 
show  of  discipline  was  made  by  the  commander  of  the 
Battalion.  This  depended,  perhaps,  more  on  his  mental 
and  physical  condition,  than  upon  any  direct  or  flagrant 
misdemeanor. 

Sectional  and  personal  jealousies  arose  among  the  men 
and  officers.  Against  the  officers  charges  of  injustice 
and  favoritism  were  made.  Counter-charges  were  made 
by  the  officers  of  inefficiency  and  insubordination. 

Their  troubles  and  differences  were  brought  before 
the  court-martial,  and  both  there  and  at  the  homes  of 
those  interested,  the  various  actions  in  the  matter  were 
thoroughly  discussed. 


RECORDS    OF   THE 

We  do  not  propose  to  open  the  discussion  again,  and 
mention  this  portion  of  the  Company's  history,  only  be 
cause  they  were  facts  and  incidents  occurring  at  that 
time. 

The  friends  at  home  had  not  forgotten  the  volunteers, 
and  we  have  accounts  of  feast  and  jpy  over  "  good  things  " 
from  home. 

There  was  some  sickness  and  one  death — that  of 
Lemuel  Andrus. 

In  order  to  give  a  better  understanding  of  the  record 
of  their  life  at  Washington,  we  select  from  the  files  of 
the  Wyoming  Times  the  following  correspondence  : 

CAMP  CONGREVE,  December,  1861. 

You  will  see  by  my  date  that  the  name  of  our  camp  has  been 
changed  from  Duncan  to  Congreve,  in  honor  of  the  inventor  of  the 
rocket.  It  is  located  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the 
Capitol,  on  what  would  be  the  prolongation  of  Pennsylvania  Ave 
nue,  if  that  thoroughfare  was  continued  through  the  Capitol.  Let 
me  describe  my  quarters  to  you.  My  house  is  what  is  called  a  wall 
tent.  The  boys  have  planted  a  row  of  young  spruce  trees  in  front  of 
the  tent,  which  is  quite  ornamental.  It  is  heated  by  a  California 
stove,  the  institution  of  the  establishment.  This  consists  of  a  hole 
near  the  centre  of  the  tent,  about  eighteen  inches  deep,  the  same  in 
breadth,  and  about  two  feet  long,  bricked  up  and  covered  with  a  stove 
top,  with  a  griddle  for  cooking.  The  draft  and  the  chimney  are  both 
on  the  outer  and  opposite  sides  of  the  tent.  This  is  a  most  admirable 
arrangement,  drying  and  warming  the  whole  floor  of  the  tent,  which 
is,  of  course,  mother  earth.  We  sleep  in  a  rough  bunk,  about  three 
feet  wide,  and  have  a  good  straw  bed  and  plenty  of  quilts  to  keep  us 
warm. 

It  is  very  warm  and  comfortable.  We  have  had  no  severe  weather 
as  yet.  I  cannot  realize  that  it  is  midwinter. 

I  must  tell  you  how  I  passed  my  Christmas.     About  noon,  in  com 
pany  with  Lieut.  Graham,  I  set  off  for  the  land  of  "Secesh."  In  galo 


TWENTY-FOtJRTH    frEW    YORK    BATTERY.  153 

ing  down  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  we  were  brought  up  standing  more 
than  once  by  the  threatening  bayonets  of  the  patrol  for  the  streets  of 
Washington.  The  city  is  under  strict  martial  law,  and  the  streets  are 
lined  with  soldiers,  stationed  as  sentinels.  They  stopped  us  only  to 
warn  us  not  to  ride  faster  than  a  trot,  and  then  suffered  us  to  pass  on. 
******** 

Our  journey  took  us  through  the  far-famed  settlement  of  Falls 
Church.  Add  two  miserable  churches  to  that  of  Perry,  and  let  that 
place  run  fifty  years  without  repair,  and  you  have  a  picture  of  the  vil 
lage  of  Falls  Church. 

Yesterday  everything  wore  a  gala-day  appearance.  Almost  every 
entrance  to  an  encampment  was  arched  with  lofty  and  beautifully 
woven  evergreens.  The  camps  were  laid  oat  in  streets^  and  thickly 
strewed  with  fresh  spruce  shrubs.  They  were  picturesque  beyond  any 
thing  I  ever  conceived  in  camp  life ;  and  withal  the  tents  were  clean  and 
apparently  comfortable,  and  the  soldiers  cheerful  and  contented. 

"  Who  wouldn't  sell  a  farm  to  be  a  soldier." 

CAMP  CONGREVE, 
Washington,  January  20th,  1862. 

Since  writing  you  last,  we  have  had  one  grand,  constant,  continual 
rain — what  the  boys  call  a  "  bully  rain."  Day  and  night,  pat,  pat,  pat 
ter,  it  has  come  on  our  canvas  roofs,  compelling  us  to  hover  close 
around  our  tin  stoves,  and  avoiding  the  treacherous  soil  without. 
Drilling  and  general  camp  duties  have  been  almost  entirely  suspended. 
We  have  had  nothing  to  do  but  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  we 
could  under  the  circumstances,  which  we  have  done.  Of  course  the 
weather  has  had  an  unfavorable  effect  upon  the  health  of  our  boys. 
There  is  considerable  sickness  in  our  Battalion,  as  well  as  in  this  entire 
division.  The  mumps,  measles,  colds,  fevers,  &c.,  are  giving  the  sur 
geons  plenty  of  work.  The  lighter  cases  are  all  treated  in  the  camp 
hospitals,  while  severe  and  protracted  diseases  receive  treatment  in 
the  general  hospitals.  But  we  are  all  hoping  for  dry  weather,  and  a 
resulting  improvement  in  health.  Until  the  roads  are  hardened,  an 
advance  from  this  point  would  be  wholly  impracticable. 

Our  troops  might  succeed  in  storming  earthworks,  but  must  suc 
cumb  to  this  accumulation  of  mud.  This  Battalion  has  engaged  only 
in  the  dismounted  drill,  and  has  attained  considerable  proficiency  in 


154  &ECOBDS   OF   THE       ^ 

ordinary  tactics  and  sword  exercise.  The  boys  swing  their  sabres  as 
lustily  as  Don  Quixote  flourished  his  trusty  blade  when  fighting  the 
windmills.  In  a  few  weeks  we  hope  to  educate  man  and  horse  in  the 
use  of  gun  carriages  and  rocket  tubes. 

CAMP  CONGREVE, 
Washington,  February  1st,  1862. 

*  #     *     *      Life  jn  camp  is  just  now  monotonous.     We  are  in 
what  is  known  as  a  camp  of  instruction,  as  distinguished  from  camp 
in  campaign.     We  have  been  drilled  in  the  school  of  the  cannoneer 
dismounted,  and  as  we  have  not  yet  received  our  horses  or  cannon,  we 
have  not  yet   commenced  the  regular  artillery  drill.     We,  however, 
expect  our  horses  in  a  few  days,  when  we  will  find  three  months  hard 
labor  before  us  at  least.     Two  incidents  have  taken  place  «mce  I  last 
wrote  you,  which  were  out  of  the  usual  course.     We  were  paid  off — 
an  occasion  of  great  interest,  and  one  which  gave  general  satisfaction  ; 
the  other  was  the  receipt  of  the  provisions  forwarded  by  the  worthy 
people  of  Perry.     The  soldier  I  take  it,  from  what  I  have  seen,  does 
not  abound  m  demonstrations  of  gratitude,  and  yet  feels  as  keenly, 
perhaps,  as  he  who  is  more  loud  in  his  expressions.     Carefully  drawn 
resolutions  of  thanks  might  sound  well,  and  perhaps  make  the  donees 
appear  to  advantage,  but  they  could  not  add  to  a  general  feeling  of 
gratefulness  entertained  and  manifested,   particularly   by   those  ac 
quainted  with  the  individuals  who  contributed.     All  of  the  articles 
reached  here  safely,  and  the  most  of  them  have  been  disposed  of.  The 
jelly  and  preserves  are  to  be  kept  for  the  sick,  and  a  few  other  articles 
we  yet  have  on  hand. 

*  *    #    *     There  has  been  some  sickness  with  us,  but  now  our 
camp  is  unusually  healthy.     We  have  had  a  great  deal   of  rainy 
weather,    and   Washington   has  been   a   sea   of   mud.     Fortunately 
our  camp  is   so  situated  that  it  is  less  damp  and  wet  than  any  of.  the 
camps  around  us.     I  see  no  prospect  of  an  immediate  advance.     The 
bad  roads,  I  think,  would  alone  prevent  it.     Even  about  the  city  the 
roads  are  almost  impassable.     *    *    *    * 

CAMP  CONGREVE,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C., 

March  10th,  1862. 

A  long  train  of  ambulances  yesterday,  crossing  the  Long  Bridge, 
put  me  in  a  gloomy  and  reflective  mood,  ftjbm  which  I  have  not  yet 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  155 

recovered.  Fancy  cannot  picture,  nor  imagination  conceive,  the  hor 
rors  of  war.  That  the  best  faculties  of  man,  his  utmost  ingenuity, 
should  be  taxed  to  produce  weapons  for  the  destruction  of  his  fellow- 
creatures,  is,  when  we  come  really  to  think  of  it,  appalling.  Some 
fiend,  one  would  think,  invented  the  shell,  some  of  them  eleven  inches 
in  diameter,  filled  with  nails,  pieces  of  iron  and  balls,  which  bursting, 
sometimes  kill  fifteen  or  twenty  men.  The  heartlessness  of  war,  and 
particularly  this  war,  it  seems  to  me,  is  touched  off  to  the  life  in  the 
following  lines.  They  are  from  Vanity  Fair,  and  may  not  have  met 
the  eye  of  all  of  your  readers  : 

The  Song  of  the  Ambulance. 

Let  the  broad  columns  of  men  advance ! 
We  follow  behind  with  the  ambulance. 

They  lead  us  many  a  weary  dance, 
But  they  cannot  weary  the  ambulance. 

We  rattle  over  the  flinty  stones, 

And  crush  and  shatter  the  shrinking  bones. 

Here  we  ride  over  a  Christian  skull- 
No  matter,  the  ambulance  is  full. 

Behold!  a  youthful  warrior  is  dead, 

But  the  wheel  glides  over  his  fair  young  head. 

See  smoke  and  fire  !  hear  cannon's  roar  I 
Till  the  bursting  ears  can  hear  no  more. 

Till  the  eyes  see  only  a  sky-blue  frame, 
And  a  lurid  picture  of  smoke  and  flame. 

And  the  air  grows  dense  with  a  thousand  sighs. 
And  shrieks  defiance  in  shrill  death-cries. 

And  blood  lie?  black  in  horrible  streams, 

And  we  think  we  are  dreaming  fearful  dreams. 

But  our  wheels  are  strong,  our  axles  sound, 
And  over  the  sea  we  merrily  bound. 

What  do  we  care  fbr  the  bursting  shell  1 
We  know  its  music,  and  love  it  well. 


156  HECOKDS  OF  THE 


What  do  we  care  for  sighs  and  groans  ? 
For  mangled  bodies  and  shattered  bones  ? 

We  laugh  at  danger  and  scorn  mischance, 
We  who  drive  the  ambulance. 

Through  rattling  bullets  and  clashing  steel, 
We  steadily  guide  the  leaping  wheel. 

Writhing  in  agony  they  lie, 

Cursing  the  ambulance,  praying  to  die. 

While  some  in  dreary,  death-like  trance, 
Bleed  life  away  in  the  ambulance. 

Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  up  bands,  and  play  ! 
We're  leading  a  glorious  life  to-day. 

For  war  is  play,  and  life  a  chance, 
And  'tis  merry  to  drive  the  ambulance. 


HEAD-QUARTERS  BATTERY  B,  On  Board ) 

Schooner    New   Jersey,   Chesapeake  >- 

f    Bay,  May  2, 1862.  ) 

Wednesday,  April  30th,  after  having  been  under  weigh  for 
some  time,  we  were  obliged  to  stop  because  of  the  fog.  It,  how 
ever  finally  cleared,  and  we  continued  on  until  9  P.  M.  During 
the  day  we  passed  in  fall  view  of  the  old  rebel  batteries  on  Pig  Point, 
Stony  Point,  Acquia  Creek,  &c.  The  scenery  along  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac  is  very  pleasing,  and  as  you  approach  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
it  deserves  more  the  name  of  bay  than  river.  One  thing  that  struck 
me  as  peculiar,  was  the  fact  that  there  was  not  a  single  village  to  be 
seen  from  Alexandria  to  the  mouth  of  the  river.  At  nine  o'clock  that 
evening  we  were  in  sight  of  the  lighthouse  on  Point  Lookout,  the 
extreme  point  of  land  between  the  Potomac  and  Chesapeake  Bay.  The 
wind  blowing  fresh,  however,  we  were  towed  into  St.  Mary's  Bay,  and 
the  next  morning,  as  it  still  blew  from  the  east,  the  intrepid  naviga 
tors  thought  it  not  prudent  to  start  out. 

Soon  after  breakfast,  Lieutenant  Cady  and  myself,  armed  with  revol 
vers,  our  skipper  with  a  short  gun,  and  two  sailors  with  oyster  tongs, 
set  forth  on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  We  sailed  up  the  bay  about  two 
miles,  firing  at  sundry  ducks,  gulls,  loons,  &c.,  without  damage  to  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW   YORK  BATTERY.  157 

birds,  when  we  came  upon  excellent  oyster  ground.  We  fell  to,  and 
in  a  short  time  had  five  or  six  bushels  of  fat  bivalves  on  board.  At  a 
short  distance  off  stood  a  large,  comfortable  looking  mansion,  so  I  went 
ashore,  and  strolling  up  through  a  well-planted,  well-cultivated  gar 
den,  was  met  by  the  proprietor,  a  well  to-do  man  (both  physically  and 
financially  too,  I  imagine),  and  very  coolly  invited  me  in.  I  declined, 
when  the  old  gentleman,  waxing  more  cordial,  insisted  upon  my  going 
into  the  house.  I  complied,  and  a  spacious  old  mansion  it  was,  too,  a 
place  where  dwelt  genuine  comfort  and  good  cheer.  From  the  gen 
tleman's  conversation  I  very  soon  saw  that  he  was  a  Secessionist, 
though  he  tried  to  talk  Union.  His  name  was  Col.  Good,  and  he  was 
very  loquacious,  and  quite  at  home  on  the  slavery  question.  He  had 
thirty  slaves  himself,  and  not  one  of  them  could  be  induced  to  leave 
him.  I  refrained  from  telling  him  what  was  a  fact,  viz.,  that  an  hour 
or  two  before,  two  of  his  best  "boys  "  had  been  pleading  with  us  to 
take  them  with  us.  For  fear  it  might  go  hard  with  the  "  boys,"  I 
declined  the  Colonel's  pressing  invitation  to  stay  to  dinner,  but  upon 
leaving  he  gave  me  a  half  bushel  of  excellent  asparagus,  and  nearly 
as  much  lettuce. 

Just  at  evening  we  rowed  to  Georgis  Island,  in  quest  of  sweet  po 
tatoes.  Several  of  the  boys  went  with  us  this  time,  and  while  Capt. 
Long,  the  Lieutenant  and  I  went  to  the  houses  for  our  vegetables, 
they  went  in  another  direction.  What  they  did  or  where  they  went  I 
know  not,  but  one  of  them  carried  a  revolver,  and  on  our  way  back  I 
thought  I  perceived  the  smell  of  fresh  meat,  and  this  morning  we  had 
some  very  nice  veal. 

IN  TRANSPORT  OFF  NEW  BERNE, 
May  12th,  1862. 

On  the  25th  of  April  we  received  orders,  which  were  unmistakably 
earnest,  to  get  our  batteries  in  a  state  of  readiness  to  proceed  to  North 
Carolina,  to  join  General  Burnside. 

Saturday,  26th,  we  embarked  in  five  schooners,  and  early  the  next 
morning  dropped  down  to  Alexandria,  where  we  lay  until  Monday, 
2bth,  when  we  were  taken  in  tow  by  a  steamer.  Besides  the  Battalion 
the  Third  New  York  (Van  Alen)  Cavalry  left  Alexandria  for  New  Berne. 

We  reached  Fortress  Monroe  Saturday,  May  3d,  having  been  de 
tained  by  foggy  weather  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Mary's  river  about 


158  RECORDS    OF   THE 

forty-eight  hours.  We  remained  at  the  Fortress  until  Tuesday  morn 
ing  following,  which  enabled  many  of  us  to  go  ashore.  We  found  the 
Old  Point  what  Washington  had  been  all  winter,  but  what  it  has  now 
ceased  to  be,  the  centre  of  active  military  movements. 

The  east  wind  which  had  kept  us  at  the  Fortress,  on  Tuesday,  6th, 
gave  way  to  a  nor'wester,  when  we  put  to  sea.  After  two  days'  sail 
we  reached  Hatteras  Inlet,  the  only  entrance  from  the  ocean  through 
that  vast  shoal  of  sand  which  stretches  from  Cape  Henry  southward. 

The  weather  was  pleasant  and  the  sea  smooth,  so  that  we  had  but 
little  sea-sickness.  The  few  who  were  affected,  however,  had  it  ter 
ribly,  which  gave  occasion  to  a  remark  from  one  of  the  afflicted,  that 
next  to  unrequited  affection,  there  is  nothing  that  unmans  one  like 
sea-sickness. 

The  coast  here  is  famous  as  being  the  most  stormy  on  the  seaboard. 
For  three  weeks  or  more,  Burnside,  with  his  fleet,  previous  to  the 
taking  of  New  Berne,  were  blown  about,  and  by  great  good  luck  es 
caped  a  total  destruction.  The  entrance  into  Pamlico  Sound  at  the 
Inlet  is  very  narrow  and  very  shallow,  and  vessels  can  only  get  through 
with  the  wind  in  particular  quarters.  Fortunately  our  fleet,  with  the 
cavalry  and  transports  with  stores,  about  thirty  sail,  came  through 
safely.  After  a  stay  of  twenty -four  hours  at  the  Inlet,  we  set  sail  for 
this  place,  where  we  arrived  last  night,  having  been  delayed  by  head 
winds. 

It  is  just  two  weeks  since  we  left  Alexandria.  Our  horses  have 
fared  pretty  hard,  and  show  the  effects  of  confinement.  We  have  been 
tossed  about  till  we  are  tired,  and  rejoice  at  the  prospect  of  speedily 
disembarking.  We  were  hailed  by  friendly  voices  on  our  arrival 
here,  and  discovered  that  we  had  been  outsailed  by  the  cavalry,  and 
Zeb.  Robinson  and  Mort.  Post  welcomed  us  to  the  land  of  Secession. 

The  steamer,  you  know,  left  us  at  Fortress  Monroe.  The  channel  is 
narrow  ;  the  Neuse  River  is  shallow  ;  vessels  drawing  more  than  seven 
feet  water  not  being  able  to  get  up  here. 

The  rebels  are  entrenched,  we  learn,  within  ten  miles,  about  10,0(^0 
strong.  There  are  but  two  batteries,  it  is  said,  in  Burnside's  command, 
and  it  is  not  likely  we  shall  remain  here  many  days,  as  the  policy  of 
Burnside  is  certainly  offensive.  The  Twenty-fifth  Massachusetts,  from 
Worcester,  is  located  here,  and  the  Nineteenth  New  York  (Cayuga)  is 
in  the  vicinity.  Tom  Post,  of  Perry,  is  in  the  last  named. 

One  of  our  men,  John  Quinn,  whose  family  resides  at  Portageville, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  159 

« 

was  terribly  wounded  in  an  affray  on  the  eve  of  our  leaving  Washing 
ton.  Little  hope  was  entertained  of  his  recovery,  and  he  was  left 
behind. 

At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Battery  in  New 
Berne,  General  Burn  side  was  in  command  of  that  de 
partment.  It  will  be  remembered  that  it  was  General 
Burnside  who  commanded  the  expedition  which  captured 
New  Berne  and  Roanoke  Island,  and  opened  that  part  of 
North  Carolina  to  our  vessels  and  troops.  At  this  par 
ticular  time  his  force  was  small,  and  there  was  no  reason 
for  supposing  that  there  was  to  be  no  immediate  advance 
on  the  part  of  the  Federal  army. 

The  troops  which  had  been  sent  to  him,  including  the 
battalion  of  artillery,  were  evidently  intended  to  be  used 
for  the  defence  of  this  stronghold.  It  was  a  point  gained, 
and  for  the  present  must  be  retained. 

Battery  B  consisted  then  of  four  three-inch  rifled  pieces 
and  just  men  and  horses  enough  to  work  them.  It  was 
encamped  out  of  the  city,  across  the  Trent  River,  on  the 
sand  plains  (a  particularly  unpleasant  location  on  a  windy 
day).  From  various  causes,  each  of  the  two  batteries  in 
the  battalion  had  diminished  in  numbers.  As  a  whole, 
they  would  have  no  more  than  properly  manned  one  six- 
gun  battery.  At  this  time  Captain  Lee  was  sick  and 
unable  to  attend  to  his  official  duties.  There  was  a  great 
deal  of  discontent  among  the  members  of  the  battalion. 
•  Their  commander  inefficient  and  given  to  intoxication. 
There  was  little  discipline  in  the  battalion,  and  it  finally 
culminated  in  this  manner  :  On  the  4th  of  June  a  letter  of 
resignation  was  written  and  signed  by  all  the  non-commis 
sioned  officers  of  Battery  B,  and  sent,  through  Capt.Lee, 


160  KECOKDS    OF    THE 

to  the  major.  A  copy  of  the  letter  was  also  sent  to 
General  Reno,  who  commanded  the  division  in  which 
they  had  been  placed. 

The  matter  of  the  correspondence  was  a  complaint  of 
want  of  discipline  and  of  acts  of  injustice,  deception,  un 
redeemed  promises  and  various  minor  difficulties. 

About  this  same  time,  Captain  Ransom,  of  Company  A, 
who  by  rank  was  in  command  of  the  battalion  (Major 
Lion  having  been,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  men, 
dismissed),  endeavored  to  force  the  members  of  Company 
B  to  consolidate  with  Company  A. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  forming  the  company  in  line,  he 
commanded  them  to  answer 'to  the  roll  call  as  members  of 
Company  A,  or  to  step  one  side  and  be  taken  to  the 
guard  house.  It  must  have  surprised  him  somewhat 
when  every  member,  as  his  name  was  called,  stepped 
aside  and  answered  "  guard  house."  This  attempt  at 
consolidation  failed. 

General  Reno  came  to  them  and  addressed  them. 
He  heard  their  complaints,  and  then  informed  them  that 
Major  Lion  had  been  dismissed  from  the  service  for  in- 
competency,  and  that  as  fast  as  he  found  the  remaining 
officers  incompetent,  they  would  be  dismissed.  He  rep 
rimanded  them  for  their  insubordination,  but  gave  them 
to  understand  that  they  should  have  their  rights. 

A  few  days  after,  Company  B  was  placed  in  the  Third 
Division  and  Company  A  in  the  Second  Division,  as 
independent  four-gun  batteries — named  respectively 
Captain  Lee's  Battery  and  Captain  Ransom's  Battery. 
On  the  3d  of  July,  18(>2,'  Captain  Lee's  Battery  was 
ordered  to  Newport  Barracks, 


TWENTY-FOURTH     NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  161 

Newport  Barracks  was  an  outpost,  and  their  duties 
began  to  be  like  those  of  a  soldier.  • 

For  the  present  we  leave,  then,  this  nucleus  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery,  and  return  to  Perry, 
to  speak  of  those  who  were  enlisting  to  go  to  Newport 
Barracks  and  fill  up  their  ranks. 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTEE    IY. 

THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

The  Union  army  was  meeting  with  defeat  and  loss  of 
men.  The  President  made  a  call  for  three  hundred 
thousand  more.  The  smothered  fire  of  patriotism  that 
was  burning  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  men  in  Perry 
burst  forth,  and  fathers'  commands,  mothers'  warnings, 
nor  sweethearts'  pleadings  and  caresses  could  avail  aught 
in  trying  to  subdue  the  flame.  'Twas  contagious,  and 
spread  with  such  uncontrollable  rapidity  that  in  a  short 
time  about  sixty  of  the  bravest  and  the  best  young  men 
in  that  town  and  vicinity  had  come  forward  and  enlisted 
in  the  cause.  Few  of  the  residents  of  that  quiet  little 
place,  September  10th,  1862,  can  forget  the  morning  of 
that  date.  To  so  many  homes  had  the  night  been  long 
and  of  little  rest ;  in  so  many  were  saddened,  heavy 
spirits  and  grief-stricken  hearts. 

The  writer  has  only  a  confused  recollection  of  tearful 
faces,  of  heart-wrung  sobs,  of  sad  adieus  and  fervent 
"  God  bless  you  V 

Full  of  the  ambition  and  pride  of  youth — full  of  patri 
otic  fervor,  and  eager  for  the  strife — believing  we  could 
help  to  redeem  what  others  had  lost — we  did  not  stop  to 
think  or  realize  how  true  might  be  our  parents'  predic- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  163 

tions,  or  the  fears   and   presentiments   of   our    friends. 
What  a  blessing  to  man  is  ignorance  of  the  future ! 

On  the  22d  of  August,  Mr.  George  S.  Hastings  re 
ceived  authority  to  raise  recruits  to  join  the  organization 
called  Captain  Lee's  Battery,  "then  stationed  at  Newport 
Barracks.  In  one  week  fifty  men  had  volunteered ; 
another  week  increased  the  number  to  sixty. 

The  citizens  of  ths  town  where  they  enlisted,  encour 
aged  them  with  kind  acts  and  kind  words.  There  was  a 
great  deal  of  enthusiasm  exhibited  throughout  the  vicin 
ity.  Generous  bounties  were  offered  and  paid.  To 
many  of  the  volunteers  this  was  useful  in  the  final  set 
tlement  of  their  pecuniary  matters.  To  the  families  of 
others  it  left  a  competence  for  a  short  time.  To  all  it 
was  acceptable  ;  but  to  few,  if  any,  was  money  a  motive 
power  to  volunteering. 

These  men,  with  but  few  exceptions,  were  young,  and 
the  galaxy  of  the  towns  in  which  they  lived.  Their  en 
listment  seemed  a  spontaneous  outburst  of  the  single 
thought  that  had  dwelt  in  many  minds  with  equal  power, 
"  Young  men  for  war,  old  men  for  council." 

Resolution,  courage  and  determination  were  stamped 
in  the  faces  of  all.  Like  the  clans  of  the  feudal  times  of 
old,  they  meant  to  show  that  the  flower  and  the  pride  of 
the  country  would  win  the  crown  of  victory  or  death, 
and  like  those  stories  of  old,  the  long,  long  days  passed 
slowly  by,  the  weary  home  watchers  waited,  hoped,  and 
feared,  till  finally  a  remnant  few  returned  in  a  pitiable 
plight,  to  bear  the  sad  tidings  of  defeat,  of  suffering,  and 
of  death. 

It  is  no  more  than  justice  to  a  few  wrho  were  unable  to 


164:  RECORDS    OF   THE 

pass  the  surgeon's  critical  examination,  and  who,  not 
withstanding,  would  have  made  capital  soldiers,  to  say 
that  they,  too,  may  be  included  in  that  honored  list. 
Their  intent  was  positive,  and  it  was  with  extreme  re 
luctance  that  they  submitted  to  his  decision.  One  of  the 
parties  wept  over  his  failure  to  pass,  grieved  and  chagrined 
at  being  deprived  from  accompanying  his  fellows.  Their 
names  were :  Norman  Macomber,  E.  H.  Andrus,  F.  A. 
Calkins,  Ezra  Higgins  and  Seymour  Sherman. 

The  Wyoming  Times  furnishes  the  following  inter 
esting  accounts : 

The  unexpected  success  of  Mr.  Hastings  in  obtaining  recruits,  in 
duced  him  to  name  Saturday  as  the  time  for  going  to  Buffalo,  and 
being  mustered  in  so  as  to  secure  the  State  bounty,  which  at  that  time 
it  was  supposed  would  cease  on  the  first  of  September.  On  Friday  his 
recruiting  rendezvous  was  thronged  with  persons  who  wished  to  en 
list,  and  at  times  two  or  three  persons  were  making  out  the  necessary 
papers. 

There  was  a  meeting  in  Smith's  Hall  on  that  night,  but  most  of  the 
young  men  who  came  to  hear  the  speeches  enlisted  before  they  reached 
the  hall,  for  the  enthusiasm  in  the  recruiting  office  was  much  greater 
and  more  hearty  and  unanimous  than  at  the  meeting.  Before  closing 
the  office  that  night,  the  list  of  Mr.  Hastings  showed  that  sixty-six 
recruits  had  been  obtained  for  Captain  Lee's  Battery,  the  majority  of 
them  belonging  to  this  town,  and  all  recruited  in  a  little  more  than 
two  weeks  This  result  was  no  doubt  owing  to  the  entire  unanimity 
of  action  which  prevailed,  and  the  unceasing  energy  and  zeal  displayed 
by  all  interested. 

MUSTERED  INTO  SERVICE. — The  recruits  which  have  been  obtained 
for  Captain  J^ee's  Battery,  some  sixty  six  in  number,  by  George  S. 
Hastings,  Esq.,  started  early  Saturday  morning  for  Buffalo,  to  be  mus 
tered  into  service.  Our  townsmen  volunteered  to  take  them  to  Castile, 
and,  altogether,  there  was  quite  a  large  procession  of  them. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  165 

They  arrived  in  Buffalo  at  ten  o'clock,  and  forming  into  line  at  the 
depot,  marched  directly  to  the  examining  surgeon's  office,  opposite  the 
post  office.  The  examination  was  finished  about  one  o'clock,  and  only 
eight  out  of  the  whole  number  were  rejected.  The  surgeon  was  quick 
and  skillful,  not  a  defect  of  any  kind  escaping  his  notice,  and  so  strict 
as  to  reject  one  man  that  had  once  been  accepted  at  Portage.  He  re 
marked  several  times  it  was  one  of  the  finest  companies  he  had  exam 
ined,  and  in  their  entire  march  through  the  city  they  were  compli-- 
mented  for  their  fine  looks,  their  seeming  intelligence  and  gentle 
manly  bearing.  From  the  examining  office  they  marched  to  the 
Franklin  House  and  took  dinner,  As  soon  as  this  was  finished  they 
were  called  to  the  mustering  office,  near  the  canal,  over  the  Marine 
Bank,  and  papers  being  all  ready,  were  sworn  into  the  service  by 
Lieutenant  Sturgeon,  of  the  regular  army. 

A  SPLENDID  LOT  OF  MEN. — A  squad  of  sixty-two  men  from  Perry, 
Wyoming  County,  arrived  in  Buffalo  this  morning,  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  Hastings.  They  were  recruited  for  Battery  B,  raised  in 
Wyoming  County,  now  at  Beaufort,  N.  C.  "  The  boys  sent  us  word 
they'd  like  a  little  help,"  said  one  of  the  men  to  us  soon  after  their  ar 
rival,  "  and  we  thought  we'd  go  down  and  help  'em." 

The  men  came  here  to  be  examined  and  mustered  into  service,  when 
they  will  return  to  Perry.  They  will  probably  leave  for  the  seat 
of  war  in  two  weeks. 

The  following  is  the  list  as  it  stands  on  the  muster  roll : 


PERRY. 

Mason  C.  Smith 

Rufus  Brayton 

Chas.H.  Dolbeer 

B.  F.  Bachelder 

Phares  Shirley 

Edward  Welch 

J.  W.  Merrill 

Jonas  E.  Galusha 

Chas.  H.  Homan 

Abram  Lent 

Wm.  S.  Camp 

Jas.  Calkins 

Oliver  Williams 

John  Filbin 

Geo.  S.  Atwood 

Le  G.  D.  Rood 

Chas.  W.  Fitch 

P.  J.  Stafford 

Philander  Pratt 

John  McCrink 

Porter  D.  Rawson 

Henry  Tilton,  Jr. 

Paul  Calteaux 

G.  W.  Keeney 

R.  H.  Barnes 

A.  W.  Comstock 

Albert  Griffith 

B.  H.  Hollieter 

Thoe.  Fitzgerald. 

166 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


MOSCOW. 


Jerry  McClair 
L.  H.  Lapham 
R.  J.  Newton 
Horace  Lapham 
John  A.  Brooks 
And.  T.  Ferguson 
Wm.  Carnahan 


Chas.  A.  Marean 
Edwin  L.  Boies 
Jacob  H.  Weller 
Jas.  W.  Perkins 
Henry  V.  Clute 
Emmett  Wood 
Geo.  W.  Piper 


James  Button 


Charles  McCrary 
W.  A.  McCrary 
L.  H.  Shank 
Wm.  Blood 


MT.   MORRIS. 


J.  H.  Armstrong 
W.  M.  Hoyt 
Hiram  Loomis 
Edwin  Eastwood 


Chas.  Hathaway 


CASTILE. 

Wm.  F.  Hosford 
Hartwell  Bartlott 


E.  T.  M.  Hurlburt,  Warsaw  A.  L.  Culver,  Gainesville 

John  Baker,  Covington 

TOWN  BOUNTY  FUND.— The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  the  con 
tributors  to  this  fund  for  the  town  of  Perry.  The  subscribers  are 
requested  to  pay  immediately  to  Of.  C.  Chapin  or  C.  W.  Hendee,  at 
Smith's  Bank,  who  will  pass  it  to  the  credit  of  G.  C.  Chapin,  treas 
urer.  It  is  designed  to  pay  this  bounty  to  volunteers  to-morrow  or 
Monday. 


Andrus,  C.P. 
Andrus,  Martin 
Alverson,  Richard  E. 
Andrus,  Samuel 
Atkins,  Martin 
Armstrong,  Sanford 
Bullard,  F.  O. 
Bailey,  John  H. 
Barber,  S.  R. 
Benedict,  C.  J. 
Brigham,  R.  W. 
Bills,  Edmund  C. 
Brigham,  H.  A. 
Buell,  Columbus 


$50 
50 
50 
50 
25 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 


Buell,  Richard 
Butler,  N.  &  W. 
Butler,  John  M. 
Bradley,  John  R. 
Brigham,  L.  M. 
Buckland,  J.  P. 
Bradley,  Edward 
Butler,  Aaron 
Benedict,  William 
Bull,  Charles 
Bradley,  G.  F. 
Birdsall,  N.  D. 
Benedict,  Samuel  S. 
Bradley  Mrs.  A. 


$50 
65 
50 
50 
10 


TWENTY-FOURTH   NEW   YORK   BATTERY. 


167 


Benedict,  C.  G. 

$50 

Loomis,  H.  C. 

$25 

Brown,  Joseph  W. 

50 

Lapham,  Alvah 

50    ' 

Currier,  N.  P. 

50 

Lane,  Austin 

20 

Crocker,  M.  N. 

50 

Lacey,  Henry 

5 

Chapin,  G.  C. 

50 

Leffingwell,  Henry 

20 

Cole.  Alexander 

50 

McEntee,  A.  S. 

50 

Corbit,  Mrs. 

50 

Mclntire,  J.  W. 

30 

Copeland,  John 

25 

Macomber,  Allen 

50 

Chase,  E.  N. 

20 

Moffet,  R.  S. 

50 

Coleman,  G.  W. 

50 

Means,  Rev.  G.  J. 

25 

Coleraan,  John 

50 

Mathews,  Edward  G. 

50 

Crichton,  Wm. 

50 

Mclntire,  Ben.  D. 

50 

Cadwell,  Francis 

10 

McCall,  Thomas 

15 

Chappell,  Abner 

30 

McDonald,  John 

5 

Chappell,  Lyman 

10 

Mace,  Eli  B. 

25 

Crabb.  J. 

10 

Miner,  Ichabod 

20 

Cornell,  Harrison 

'25 

Martin,  Esther 

25 

Dolbeer,  Wm.  K. 

50 

Martin,  John  J. 

25 

Daily,  J.  M. 

50 

Nichols,  G. 

10 

Davis,  M.  G. 

50 

Noyes,  Edward 

5 

Davis,  r\  homas 

50 

Olin,  John 

75 

Errickson,  D.  W. 

50 

Olin,  William 

50 

Ferguson,  Jerome 

10 

Olin,  G.  B. 

75 

Grieve.  George  W. 

50 

Olin,  Milo 

60 

Griswold,  J.  R. 

50 

Olin,  Paris 

50 

Gay,  Norris 

20 

Olin,  Philip 

15 

Biggins,  R.  D. 

50 

Palmer,  Tyler 

50 

Hendee,  C.  W. 

50 

Page,  H.  N. 

50 

Handley,  Jonathan 

50 

Paterson,  T.  J. 

50 

Hatch,  Samuel 

50 

Philips,  L.  M. 

50 

Hitchcock,  J.  B. 

50 

Pratt,  Joel  T. 

10 

Hosford,  Nelson 

50 

Pratt,  D.  B. 

10 

Hart,  Wm. 

10 

Palmer,  Wm. 

50 

Hawley,  Wm.  H. 

22 

Pratt,  R.  B. 

10 

Howard,  S.  M. 

25 

Pratt,  Jabesh 

10 

Hosford,  Aimer  B. 

25 

Philips,  W.  A. 

15 

Higgins,  M.  D. 

10 

Page,  Benj.  F. 

5 

Justin,  Proper 

50 

Philips,  Caleb  9 

30 

Jeffers,  Eugene 

30 

Pennock,  Alexander 

5 

Judd,  B.  H. 

15 

Partridge,  Levi  B. 

20 

Keeney,  G.  L. 

50 

Reed,  Daniel  F. 

5C 

Karriger,  James 

50 

Rudgers,  John 

5 

Kingsley,  Elias 

15 

Rouse,  Mrs.  S. 

2 

Kings-ley,  George 

10 

Sweet,  German 

50 

Kniffin,  J.  B. 

05 

Sharpsteen,  Mortimer 

50 

Kniffin,  Thorn 

50 

Scranton,  H.  M. 

50 

Lillibridge,  H.  H. 

50 

Stedman,  R.  H. 

50 

168 


RECORDS  OF  THE: 


Sherman,  J.  B. 
Seymour,  N. 
Sheldon,  Andrew 
Sheldon,  Q.  K. 
Stowell,  David 
Sweet,  Rufus 
Strong,  Albert 
Strong,  H.  L. 
Skinner,  B.  C. 
Stowell,  Hall 
Shaw,  D.  M. 
Stamp,  G.  &  I. 
Saxton,  Uriah 
Spear,  Wm.  B. 
Sleeper,  Jonathan 
Sharpsteen,  Samuel 
Tuttle,  R.  T. 
Taylor,  Steven 
Tewksbury,  S.  W. 
Toan,  Austin 
Taylor  &  Nobles 


$50 
'  50 
50 
50 
25 
10 
50 
50 
50 
50 
20 
25 
25 
15 
25 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 


Taylor,  D.  R. 
Velzey,  M.  N. 
Williams,  M.  C. 
White,  J.  H. 
Wyckoff,  J.  W. 
Wygant,  E.  H. 
Wright,  A.  M. 
Wallace,  J.  D. 
Williamson,  James 
WatrouB,  Charles 
Witter,  F.  S. 
White,  G.  C. 
Westlake,  J.  S. 
Winter,  John 
Westlake,  Albert 
Wellman,  Harvey 
Wellman,  Nelson 
Wygant,  J.  L. 
Watkinson,  Wm. 
Wright,  G.  H. 


$25 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
25 
10 
50 
50 
50 
10 
25 
10 
25 
20 
25 
10 


OFF  FOB  THE  WAR,. — The  men  recruited  by  Geo.  S.  Hastings  for 
Company  B,  Rocket  Battalion,  Captain  J.  E.  Lee,  took  their  final  de 
parture  for  the  seat  of  war,  Wednesday  morning.  The  citizens  turned 
out  early  in  the  morning,  to  bid  a  last  "  good  bye  "  to  the  boys  ;  and 
at  about  six  o  clock  they  were  on  the  way  to  Castile  Station,  where 
they  were  detained  nearly  three  quarters  of  an  hour — the  train  being 
behind  time.  Finally  the  cars  came,  and  the  boys,  with  quite  a 
large  delegation  of  our  citizens,  took  passage  for  Buffalo,  reaching 
there  a  little  after  eleven  o'clock.  Forming  into  line  at  the  depot 
(preceded  by  Aplin's  Band,  who  kindly  volunteered  for  the  occasion), 
they  marched  to  the  Arcade,  where  a  number  of  new  recruits  were 
mustered  in,  and  then  proceeded  to  Roth's  Hall,  on  Batavia  Street 
and  took  dinner.  Expecting  to  leave  for  Albany  the  same  night, 
at  four  o'clock  they  returned  to  the  mustering  office,  to  receive  the 
Government  bounty  ;  but  the  officials  were  so  busy  they  had  to  post 
pone  their  departure  till  Thursday,  and  they  went  back  to  their 
quarters  on  Batavia  Street,  where  they  expected  to  have  a  good  time 
until  ready  to  leave  the  city.  The  procession  attracted  much  atten 
tion,  and  many  flattering  remarks  were  made  by  citizens  all  along 
the  route,  complimentary  both  to  the  men  and  the  band.  We  noticed 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  169 

that  a  number  of  the  boys  had  bouquets,  showing  that  if  they  had 
left  home,  they  were  still  among  friends.  On  Tuesday,  Captain  Burt, 
of  the  Silver  Lake  House,  tendered  the  hospitalities  of  his  grounds 
and  steamboat  to  the  volunteers,  for  pic-nic  purposes  ;  which  seemed 
to  be  "  hugely"  enjoyed  by  those  present,  and  all  left,  wishing  the 
Captain  a  long  life  and  many  such  happy  reunions.  In  the  evening, 
at  Wallace's  Hotel,  "  Andrew's"  Cotillion  Baud  claimed  the  attention 
of  a  large  number  of  both  sexes  who  were  wont  to  "  trip  the  light1  fan 
tastic  toe" — and  altogether  the  soldiers  had  "  a  time"  which  will,  no 
doubt,  be  long  cherished  among  those  "  pleasant  memories,"  which 
revert  to  the  scenes  of  long  agone.  May  our  best  wishes  that  they  all 
return  again  to  their  homes  and  friends,  sound  and  well,  speedily  be 

realized. 

i 

After  a  few  days'  stay  at  a  German  hotel  in  Batavia 
street,  Buffalo,  where  we  were  initiated  into  rations  of 
Dutch  bread,  Bologna  sausage  and  lager  beer,  furnished 
by  the  United  States  at  thirty  cents  per  diem,  we  were 
sent  to  Albany. 

In  this  city  we  were  quartered  at  the  Asylum  Barracks, 
and  underwent  another  examination.  I  cannot  conceive 
'  for  what  purpose,  unless  it  was  to  put  the  fees  into  the 
pockets  of  the  post-surgeon.  However,  his  remark  was 
the  same  as  that  of  the  surgeon  at  Buffalo,  that  "  It  was 
the  finest  squad  of  men  that  he  had  examined" — all 
passed. 

We  were  delayed  but  a  day  or  two.  Monday,  Sep 
tember  15th,  we  took  the  steamer  Isaac  Newton  for  New 
York  City. 

At  New  York  we  were  quartered  at  Park  Barracks, 
which  were  at  that  time  cleanly  and  not  over-crowded. 
The  soup,  coffee  and  meat  were  all  good.  The  Croton 
water  was  sweet,  and  the  fruit  stalls  surrounding  us  were 
loaded  down  with  the  finest  varieties  of  peaches.  We 


170  RECORDS   0$   TfiE 

enjoyed  our  short  stay  here  greatly.  We  received  our 
uniforms,  and  'were  permitted  to  roam  about  the  city 
during  the  day  and  visit  various  places  of  amusement  in 
the  evening. 

To  show  the  spirit  arid  feeling  prevailing  at  that  time, 
we  quote  from  a  letter  written  by  William  F.  Hosford  to 
a  friend. 

Our  boys  all  appear  to  have  formed  good  impressions  of  this  city 
and  their  quarters.  All  have  throughout  expressed  their  determina 
tion  to  remain  till  their  services  are  no  longer  needed  by  the  Govern 
ment,  and  if  any  are  sorry  they  enlisted,  they  are  wise  enough  to  say 
nothing  about  it.  For  myself  I  am  glad  that  I  enlisted,  not  only  as 
an  act  of  duty  and  patriotism,  but  when  I  did  and  where  I  did.  My 
attachment  to  the  Company  and  our  branch  of  the  service  increases 
daily. 

On  the  19th  of  September  we  embarked  on  the 
steamer  "  Oriole,"  destined  for  New  Berne.  A  storm 
threatened  us  while  near  Fortress  Monroe,  and  we  ran 
into  that  harbor  remaining  for  two  days.  A  grateful 
retreat,  too,  it  was.  The  rough  sea  had  given  a  general 
experience  of  sea-sickness,  and  a  quiet  harbor  restored 
smiling  faces  and  merry  tongues.  The  demand  for  fresh 
food  was  too  great  for  the  immediate  supply — and  the 
rush  for  the  fresh  bread  and  molasses  that  was  issued  to 
us  as  extra  rations  from  the  Fortress  was  overpowering. 
However,  as  we  weighed  anchor  next  day  and  again 
steamed  out  toward  the  sea,  the  demand  decreased,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  a  double  row  of  gaping  mouths 
were  giving  bread  and  molasses  to  the  fishes. 

A  few  days  brought  us  to  Cape  Hatteras,  and  passing 
safely  over  the  sand-bar,  we  found  ourselves  steaming 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  171 

down  the  quiet  waters  of  the  river  Neuse.  All  were  in 
terested  in  viewing  a*  country  new  to  them,  and  in  listen 
ing  to  the  explanations  and  stories  of  the  approach  and  at 
tack  upon  New  Berne  by  General  Burnside,  his  base  being 
the  fleet  of  transports  and  gun  boats  which  were  stationed 
in  this  river. 

There  was  a  general  brushing  up  of  new  uniforms,  ap 
pearances  on  deck  of  faces  that  we  had  not  seen  for  days, 
and  a  return  of  jest  and  laughter.  Our  steamer  was 
fastened  to  the  wharf,  and  after  giving  hearty  cheers  for 
our  kind  and  gentlemanly  master,  Captain  B.  F.  Holmes, 
we  disembarked.  Captain  Lee,  expecting  our  arrival, 
had  had  railroad  transportation  to  Newport  Barracks 
provided  for  us,  and  we  were  soon  in  the  cars  and  started 
off. 

Arriving  at  Newport  Barracks  we  were  warmly  greeted 
by  our  old  friends,  who  were  glad  to  have  our  assistance 
and  companionship. 

In  the  course  of  a  week  or  so,  Lient.  George  Hastings, 
who  had  remained  in  the  North  to  complete  some  busi 
ness  arrangements,  and  add  a  few  recruits  to  the  number 
already  obtained,  arrived  with  half  a  dozen  recruits, 
accompanied  by  Clark  and  Lieut.  Fred.  Hastings,  who 
had  also  been  home  on  recruiting  service. 

As  soon  as  these  last  recruits  had  arrived,  there  was  a 
new  interest  aroused  as  to  the  appointment  of  non-com 
missioned  officers. 

There  were  some  conflicting  interests  between  the 
"  Old  Boys"  and  the  "  New  Boys,"  in  the  re- organization 
and  these  appointments,  but  time  destroyed  these  phrases 
of  distinction,  and  unanimity  of  feeling  and  interest,  or 


172  RECORDS  OF  THE 

at  least  as  much  of  it  as  could  be  expected  in  any  company, 
prevailed. 

On  the  19th  of  October  orders  were  received,  desig 
nating  the  company  as  the  u  TWENTY-FOURTH  INDEPENDENT 
BATTERY  OF  LIGHT  ARTILLERY,  NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUN 
TEERS." 

On  the  4th  of  November,  the  appointment  of  non 
commissioned  officers,  and  the  assignment  of  privates  to 
their  particular  posts,  were  made.  The  following  is  the 
roster  as  read  to  us  at  our  parade  : 

Captain.— J.  E.  Lee. 

First  Lieutenants.— L.  A.  Cady,  Geo.  S.  Hastings. 

Second  Lieutenants.— Geo.  W.  Graham,  Fred.  Hastings. 

Orderly  Sergeant.— C.  H.  Dolbeer. 

Artificers.— A.  Richards,  A.  Griffith,  P.  D.  Rawson,  P.  Calteaux.  M.  Grant. 

Buglers.— H.  C.  Burd,  L.  Newcomb. 

Guidon.— Wm.  Alburty. 

Wagoner. — J.  Chapman. 

FIRST   DETACHMENT. 

Sergeant. — R.  C.  Ainsworth. 
Gunner.— F.  D.  Otis. 
Caisson  Corporal.— Wm.  A.  McCrary. 

Wm.  Ainsworth,  A.  McDonald,  J.  Flynn, 

J.  E.  Galusha,  M.  C.  Smith,  T.  Fitzgerald, 

S.  Rowell,  R.  Brayton,  George  Miller, 

M.  Ansbacher,  W.  P.  Nichols,  J.  Sunfield, 

J.  H.  Weller,  A.  W.  Comstock,  H.  Bartlett, 

J.  W.  Perkins,  J.  G.  Miner. 

SECOND    DETACHMENT. 

Strgeant.—J.  W.  Merrill. 

Gunner.— E.  T.  M.  Hurlburt. 

Caisson  Corporal.— Q.  G.  Wright. 

R.  Bullock,  E.  Eastwood,  J.  McVey, 

R.  J.  Newton,  W.  F.  Hottford,  C.  McCrary, 

D.  Munroe,  B.  F.  Bachelder.  C.  H.  Homan, 

E.  H.  Hunter,  C.  W.  Fitch,  J.  Baker, 

O.  G.  Parmlee,  Le  G.  D.  Rood,  H.  Chadbourne, 

A.  L.  Culver. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY. 


173 


THIRD    DETACHMENT. 

Sergeant.— C.  R.  Griffith. 

Gunner.— A.  T.  Ferguson. 

W.  M.  Hoyt,  J.  Button,  L.  H.  Lapham, 

H.  Lapham,  E.  Boies,  G.  B.  Johnson. 

T.  Rich,  W .  E.  Chapin,  H.  Cook, 

z  Allen,  J.  H.  Armstrong,  M.  R.  Mosier, 

G.  W.  Stevens,  H.  V.  Clute.  W.  Gould, 

S.  King,  T.  F.  Shockensey. 


FOURTH    DETACHMENT 


J.Wooleey, 
G.  S.  At  wood, 
W.  A.  Whitney, 
F.  Leonard, 
S.  Root, 


Sergeant.— Win.  S.  Camp. 

Gunner.— Geo.  Birdsall. 
P.  Pratt, 
B.  H.  Hollister, 
M.  Andrews, 
R.  H.  Barnes, 
J.  Crooks, 
G.  A.  Holman. 


F.  M.  Alburty, 
O.  Williams, 
E.  Wood, 
J.  Calkins, 
J.  McCrink, 


FIFTH    DETACHMENT 

Sergeant.— S..  P.  Lloyd. 

Gunner. — B.  F.  Corbin. 

Caisson  Corporal.— Y.  Shirley. 
S.  Nichols  Wm.  N.  Page, 

R.  Turner,  S.  D.,Canfield, 

G.  W.  Kellogg,  M.  Crosby, 

P.  Marrin,  A.  Lee, 


J.  H.  Armstrong, 


Geo.  W.  Piper, 


H.  Tilton, 
W.  W.  Crooker, 
C.  Marrin, 
P.  J.  Stafford, 
H.  S.  Whitney. 


SIXTH    DETACHMENT 

Sergeant.— C  A.  Clark. 

Gunner.— S.  Stoddard. 

Caisson  Corporal.— C.  T.  Phelan. 
W.  Blood,  J.  McClair, 

C.  Hathaway,  O.  S.  McCrary, 

G.  Barker,  T.  McGuire, 

J.  T.  Ferrin,  Geo.  W.  Keeney, 

J.  Cowen,  W.  Carnahan, 


A.  Adame, 
E.  H.  WTardwell, 
Ira  Billingham, 
E.  Richards, 
E.  Welch, 


J.  Filbin, 


J.^Russell. 


174  RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTEE    Y. 

NEWPORT       BARRACKS. 

After  the  names  of  the  new  recruits  had  been  added 
to  .the  muster  roll,  it  contained  the  names  of  five  officers 
and  126  men. 

We  had  but  four  pieces,  a  few  horses,  and  a  scanty 
supply  of  small  arms  and  equipments.  A  requisition  had 
been  forwarded  to  the  proper  authorities,  however,  and 
we  felt  encouraged  to  hope  that  we  should,  before  long, 
be  a  formidable  organization.  Drill  was  made  imperative 
and  constant.  There  was  an  eager  desire  on  the  part  of 
the  recruits  to  learn,  and  a  willingness  on  the  part  of  the 
veterans  to  teach.  They  had  their  laughs  and  their 
thrusts  at  each  other,  but  no  serious  dispute  ever  arose 
between  them.  The  experience  at  Newport  Barracks,  as 
a  whole,  was  a  pleasant  one.  There  was  sufficient  exer 
cise  in  our  duties,  our  food  was  good,  and  there  was  ex 
citement  by  being  on  an  outpost.  Kumors  of  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy,  or  of  an  advance  on  some  rebel 
grounds,  kept  us  on  the  alert. 

Good  barracks  and  tents  were  furnished  us,  and  nearly 
every  building  had  its  mess,  by  meins  of  which  a  sort' of 
house-keeping  arrangement  was  undertaken — and  cer 
tainly  no  soldier  could  ask  for  cleaner  quarters  or  better 
meals  than  we  then  enjoyed.  There  was  but  little  sick- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK     BATTERY.  175 

ness,  and  the  extremely  well  carried  on  hospital  at  New 
port,  soon  put  any  sick  ones  on  their  feet  again. 

On  Wednesday,  November  5th,  the  third  and  sixth 
detachments  of  the  Battery  were  ordered  out  on  a  scouting 
expedition.  In  addition  to  these  the  cavalcade  consisted 
of  a  company  of  the  Van  Alen  cavalry,  one  company  of 
the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  and  a  battalion  made  from  a 
couple  of  Massachusetts  regiments.  Captain  Lee  was  in 
command  of  the  expedition.  At  half-past  four  in  the 
morning  the  command,  "Forward"  was  given,  and  on 
went  shuffling  feet,  clattering  hoofs  and  rumbling  wheels. 

A  short  distance  from  camp  one  of  the  caissons,  in  pass 
ing  through  a  narrow  space,  run  one  of  the  wheels  upon 
a  stump,  completely  overturning  the  caisson,  setting  the 
cannoneers  flying  in  every  direction,  breaking  both  poles, 
the  reach,  stock  and  trail,  and  loosening  the  ammunition 
chests  from  their  fastenings.  It  could  be  of  no  further 
use  until  it  was  repaired.  Therefore  the  drivers  returned 
to  camp  with  it,  while  the  cannoneers  found  seats  on  the 
gun  chests,  and  went  on  with  their  piece. 

Nothing  further  occurred  to  relieve  the  dullness  of  the 
tramp  through  the  woods,  save  an  occasional  return  of 
some  cavalrymen,  who  would  bring  in  some  u  guerrilla  " 
or  "  union  man,"  and  perhaps  an  old  musket  or  two. 
Some  bee  hives  in  the  yards  of  the  houses  they  passed  by 
looked  rather  tempting,  and  not  a  great  time  passed  be 
fore  broken  hives  were  supplying  buzzing  bees  and 
hungry  boys  with  their  delicious  contents.  But  the  boys 
found  that  the  bees  stuck  by  much  longer  than  the  honey, 
and  after  they  had  halted  and  encamped  for  the  night, 
having  had  some  thirty  miles  march,  a  host  of  these  re- 


176  RECORDS   OF    THE 

vengeful  little  fellows  were  constantly  giving  a  thrust 
into  the  face  or  body  of  some  one  of  the  despoilers  of 
their  homes. 

That  night  it  began  to  rain  and  continued  to  pour  down 
steadily  until  the  following  night.  The  infantry  could 
not  use  their  muskets  on  that  account,  and  as  appearances 
indicated  continued  rain,  and  it  was  growing  quite  cold, 
it  was  though  best  to  return. 

They  reached  camp  next  day  thoroughly  drenched  with 
the  rain,  with  twelve  prisoners,  some  horses  and  other 
contraband  articles.  This  was  their  first  scouting  ex 
perience.  It  was  enjoyed  by  all  who  participated  in  it. 

On  the  following  Wednesday,  at  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  an  extra  train  came  thundering  down  to 
the  station,  and  our  Captain,  who  had  gone  to  New 
Berne  the  previous  day,  skipping  off  the  train,  called  for 
the  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard,"  and  told  him  to  "  call  out 
the  men  to  hear  orders."  The  unusual  commotion  routed 
us  from  the  tents,  and  in  a  wonderfully  short  time  we 
formed  the  line,  and  were  informed  that  we  were  to  pro 
ceed  immediately  to  New  Berne. 

From  one  of  the  men  attached  to  the  train,  we  learned 
that  the  pickets  within  a  few  miles  of  New  Berne  had 
been  driven  in,  some  of  them  killed,  and  an  attack  on  the 
city  was  anticipated. 

In  coming  down  after  the  troops,  the  engineer  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  have  a  hand  car  run  ahead  of  the 
engine,  fearing  that  the  rebels  might  have  torn  up  some 
portion  of  the  track. 

As  we  stood  by  the  camp  fire  awaiting  the  arrival  of 
some  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  who  had  been  sent  for  at 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YOKK    BATTERY.  177 

u  Bogue  Sound,"  stevedore  Gillillin,  who  had  charge  of 
the  u  contrabands  "  that  were  in  the  hand  car,  amused  us 
with  stories  of  their  odd  actions  and  expressions,  as  they 
moved  along  through  the  darkness  over  the  track.  Either 
'  Boneyparte '  or  '  Washinton  '  or  '  Bolivar '  or  k  Frank 
lin'  were  constantly  seeing  a  rebel  or  a  troop  of  them, 
"  way  long  on  de  track.  "  Nevertheless,  they  assured 
themselves  as  well  as  the  stevedore,  that  they  "  weren't 
afraid,  "  and  argued  with  each  other  as  to  the  best  method 
of  carrying  on  a  light.  Suddenly,  Giltillin  cried  out, 
"  There  they  are  !  "  "  Oh  !  Lord,  Boss,  whar  ?  "  they 
ejaculated,  and  with  "pallor  on  their  cheeks,  and  their 
hair  standing"  they  dropped  the  wheel  handle  and 
made  preparations  to  leap. 

It  was  some  time  before  he  could  convince  them  that 
he  u  had  made  a  mistake."  And  he  concluded  that  if  he 
thought  of  getting  to  Newport,  he  should  try  no  more 
such  experiments. 

The  pieces,  caissons,  horses  and  men  were  on  the  cars 
by  six  o'clock,  and  off  they  started  with  the  colors  flying, 
and  rousing  cheers. 

The  next  day  they  returned  and  reported  that  the 
whole  affair  was  more  "  scare  "  than  "  hurt.  "  This  was 
their  second  "  call  out.  "  And  though  they  did  not  par 
ticipate  in  any  battle,  yet  they  fully  expected  to  meet  the 
enemy.  It  was  an  excellent  opportunity  to  show  their 
u  metal,  "  and  there  was  no  lack  of  it. 

About  this   time   Mrs.    Lieutenant    George   Hastings 
arrived  on  our  favorite  steamer  "  Oriole.  "     So  rarely  was 
a  female  face  seen,  that  she  was   received   with   great 
admiration  and  a  sincere  welcome. 
12 


178 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


In  the  latter  part  of  November,  some  of  the  boys 
discovered  a  steam  sawmill  located  within  a  mile  or 
two  of  the  camp.  Our  practical  Lieutenant  Cady 
proposed  to  turn  the  discovery  to  advantage,  and  promptly 
made  an  examination  of  the  condition  of  the  mill, 
and  reported  it  soon  after  in  working  order.  Our 
drill  was  thereafter  alternated  with  labor  in  the  woods. 
Each  section  of  the  three  went  „  out  into  the  woods 
every  third  day  to  fall  trees  and  float  them  down  to 
the  mill,  where  Cady,  Rawson,  Richards,  Pratt,  Albert 
Griffith,  Rich  and  Woolsey  soon  converted  them  into 
desirable  lumber.  The  writer  well  recollects  passing 
an  eventful  evening,  while  assisting  to  float  a  board  raft 
down  to  the  railroad  bridge,  from  where  the  lumber 
was  to  be  shipped  by  railroad.  As  we  floated  down  the 
river,  the  bright  pitch  fire  upon  the  raft,  casting  its 
lurid  light  into  the  dark  shadows  of  the  immense  forest 
trees  that  leaned  over  the  shore  of  the  river — the  dark, 
nearly  invisible  forms  of  our  comrades  that  sat  with  the 
fire  interposing  between  us — the  merry  song  and  the 
laughter  over  the  comic  story — the  exclamation  over  the 
roasted  sweet  potato  that  some  one  had  broken  open, 
while  the  hot  steam  and  the  savory  odor  rose  to  the  open 
mouth  till  the  waiting  palate  danced  with  joy — all  these 
seem  a  strange,  wild  picture  that  haunts  my  memory  yet. 

Nor  can  we  forget  the  "Halt!  who  comes  there?" 
and  the  sudden  presentation  of  the  bayonet  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  sentinel,  and  our  sudden  huddling  together  and 
approaching  to  give  the  necessary  salutation  and  pass 
word.  The  mill  turned  out  15,000  feet  of  lumber,  which 
was  a  great  assistance  to  us  the  following  winter,  in 
building  winter  quarters  in  New  Berne, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK     BATTERY.  179 

Tuesday  evening,  December  10th,  an  extra  train 
brought  down  orders  for  us  to  strike  tents,  pack  up 
all  our  personal  effects  and  be  aboard  the  cars  by  the 
time  the  engine  returned  from  Beaufort. 

We  were  ready  at  the  appointed  time.  And  about 
one  o'clock  were  on  the  train,  started  for  New  Berne, 
bidding  Newport  Barracks  "  good  bye  "  for  ever.  The 
Battery  had  been  stationed  there  five  months.  We 
felt  quite  at  home  there,  and  had  not  that  strong  desire 
for  an  active  soldiers'  life  been  so  predominant  in  our 
minds,  I  doubt  not  we  should  have  felt  a  little  twang  of 
regret  at  leaving. 

We  make  a  few  selections  from  the  letters  of  the  cor 
respondent  of  the  Wyoming  Times y  which  relate  more 
particularly  to  their  social  and  domestic  life : 

HAMMOND  HOSPITAL,  BEAUFORT,  N.  C. 

October  16,  1862. 

Day  before  yesterday  I  took  a  sail  of  about  ten  miles  with  a  party  of 
twelve  others.  There  was  a  good  stiff  breeze,  and  we  ran  at  the  rate  of 
2.40,  nearly,  making  the  ten  miles  in  three  quarters  of  hour.  We  stopped 
on  the  sound  side  of  the  island,  and  then  took  the  direct  path  that  led 
to  the  beach.  The  surge  rolled  high — and  as  we  went  for  the  purpose 
of  gathering  shells — this  was  very  favorable  for  us.  We  wandered 
along  the  beach  toward  the  Cape  Lookout  light  house,  and  approach 
ed  near  enough  to  take  a  good  survey  of  it.  It  is  one  of  the  best  light 
houses  on  the  shore,  but  for  some  reason  it  is  not  now  used.  This  Island 
is  named  from  the  cape,  Lookout  Island.  We  soon  turned  into  one  of 
the  paths  (they  have  no  roads  here,  and  the  country  is  entirely  covered 
with  a  low  brush  that  they  term  woods,  with  occasionally  a  path  in  it 
that  leads  to  a  dwelling),  and  following  it  about  a  mile  we  came  ab 
ruptly  upon  a  settlement,  three  or  four  houses  with  their  kitchens  and 
cook  room,  which  are  always  separate  from  the  house,  that  is,  detached 
from  it.  The  old  lady  out  on  the  stoop  was  considerably  frightened 


180  RECORDS    OF    THE 

at  first,  at  so  many  blue -coats,  and  refused  to  entertain  us  at  all, 
but  one  of  her  sons  coming  to  the  house,  she  finally  concluded  that 
she  would  keep  half  a  dozen  of  us  over  night  and  give  us  tea  and 
breakfast.  The  salt  water  breeze  and  long  walk  had  given  us  voracious 
appetites,  and  as  we  sat  down  to  milk,  eggs,  fish,  sweet  potatoes  and 
Youpon  tea,  you  would  have  been  astonished  to  have  seen  it  disappear 
so  rapidly  before  six  hospital  patients. 

After  tea  the  boys  sat  down  to  do  their  smoking,  and  the  old  lady, 
son  and  daughter,  did  the  talking.  They  entertained  us  with  stories 
of  the  war — particularly  the  taking  of  Fort  Macon  and  Beaufort.  It 
seems  that  our  forces  took  the  place  just  in  time  to  prevent  the  son, 
with  sixteen  others  who  had  been  drafted  by  rebel  conscription, 
being  forced  to  go  into  the  southern  army.  There  is  not  a  rebel  on 
the  whole  island,  and  there  was  great  anxiety  when  the  battle  was 
fought,  and  great  rejoicing  when  we  had  won  the  day.  The  island 
was  under  cross  fire  of  the  forces,  and  many  shot  and  shell  fell  on  it, 
often  quickly  dispersing  the  crowds  that  had  collected  to  see  the  fight. 
Anecdotes  were  numerous,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  I  should  really  get 
the  "  stories  mixed  "  if  I  should  endeavor  to  tell  any  of  them. 

We  rested  very  well  that  night,  considering  that  they  gave  us 
feather  beds  to  sleep  on — for  I  cannot  now  rest  or  sleep  on  anything 
softer  than  a  mattress.  Next  morning  we  were  up  early  and  over  to 
the  beach  before  breakfast.  When  we  returned  the  old  lady  had  pre 
pared  us  a  fine  breakfast.  As  we  offered  to  pay  her  for  our  entertain 
ment,  she  refused  any  remuneration,  saying,  "  I  want  to  do  all  I  can  to 
help  the  Union  cause,  and  you  are  welcome  to  all  the  house  affords  as 
long  as  you  choose  to  stay."  We  had  dinner  at  another  house  before 
we  came  off,  when  they  made  the  same  remark  in  substance,  and  re 
fused  to  take  pay. 

I  noticed  that  there  was  a  greater  variety  of  the  feathered  tribe 
on  this  island  than  on  the  other  shore,  as  all  the  birds  are  there 
represented  in  one — the  mocking  bird. 

Yesterday  I  went  to  Morehead  City,  which  is  situated  and  bears 
about  the  same  relation  to  Beaufort  that  Jersey  City  does  to  New  York. 
It  is  a  small  place,  mostly  inhabited  by  fishermen.  The  Ninth  New 
Jersey  are  barracked  there.  Most  of  the  best  houses,  as  are  those  in 
New  Berne  and  Beaufort,  are  confiscated  and  used  for  officers  and 
some  times  soldiers  quarters.  Just  as  we  came  up  to  the  wharf,  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  181 

guard  had  arrested  a  man,  calling  himself  a  "Union  citizen,"  who  had 
come  down  from  Swansboro,  some  sixty  miles  up  in  the  country.  The 
officers,  upon  questioning  him,  concluded  that  he  had  better  remain 
a  while  at  Morehead,  and  the  boys  soon  confiscated  his  boat  after  hear 
ing  the  decision.  Our  pickets  and  other  guard,  are  on  the  close  look 
out  for  such  fellows,  and  they  "  bag  "  a  good  many  of  them. 

By  looking  on  the  map  you  will  see  that  Beaufort  is  situated  on  the 
point  of  land  running  out  into  the  Bogue  Sound.  Upon  the  northern 
point  of  Bogue  Island,  and  nearly  opposite  Shackleford  banks,  is 
situated  Fort  Macon.  The  channel  is  here  very  narrow  and  winding, 
which  makes  it  difficult  for  any  boat  to  come  into  harbor  and  so  much 
the  more  difficult  for  one  to  run  by  the  Fort.  Fort  Macon  is  very 
little  like  Fortress  Monroe,  and  I  could  understand  by  visiting  both  of 
them  the  difference  between  a  Fort  and  a  Fortress  much  more  readily 
and  distinctly  than  by  the  dictionary  definition.  Most  of  the  soldiers 
barracked  there  are  Regulars.  The  day  I  went  out  they  were  target 
shooting,  the  target  being  an  old  vessel,  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
distant  from  the  gun.  They  made  some  very  fine  shots.  I  hardly 
think  a  "  secesh"  vessel  will  ever  pass  in  the  day  time  and  not  feel 
the  effects  of  a  well  directed  cannon  ball. 

J.  W.  M. 


HAMMOND  HOSPITAL,  BEAUFORT,  N.  C., 

October  15,  1862. 

Friend  Frank  :  Having  been  in  the  hospital  for  the  past  week,  I 
have  had  little  opportunity  to  see  or  hear  anything  that  would  be 
very  interesting  for  your  readers.  I  have  had,  though,  a  very  good 
opportunity  to  study  the  nature  and  character  of  the  native  colored 
inhabitants,  as  many  of  them  are  waiters  in  the  building,  and  there  is 
not  a  barn  or  shed  six  by  eight  but  is  crowded  with  them  till  their 
heads  hang  out  of  the  windows. 

Last  Thursday  they  held  a  prayer  meeting  in  the  wash-room.  It  is 
a  good  sized  building  and  was  well  filled.  There  was  really  music  in 
the  hymns  they  sung.  They  have  (both  male  and  female)  soft,  sweet, 
musical  voices.  The  air  flats  a  little,  and  gives  a  peculiar  accent  and 


182  RECORDS    OF   THE 

upward  slide  at  the  end  of  every  line.  This  is  a  peculiarity  I  have 
noticed  in  all  their  songs,  whether  they  be  negro  melodies  or  church 
tunes.  They  commenced  their  evening  service  by  singing  "  Rock 
of  Ages."  Their  minister,  a  colored  brother,  then  made  a  short 
but  able  prayer  ;  another  hymn  was  sung,  and  he  began  a  short  ex 
tempore  sermon.  His  text  he  selected  from  Jeremiah — "  What  will  it 
profit  a  man  if  he  gaineth  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul." 
'My  beloved  breveren,"  said  he,  'Jeremiah  was  one  of  thirteen  broth 
ers,  and  God  took  to  him  case  he  was  always  good.  Well,  one  day 
they  were  all  to  work  in  a  field,  and  Jeremiah  was  so  tired  that  he 
went  under  a  tree  and  lay  down  and  went  to  sleep.  While  he  was 
asleep,  God  come  sailing  down  from  heaven,  changed  into  a  dove,  lit 
in  the  tree  over  Jeremiah's  head,  and  woke  him  up  saying  the  words 
of  this  text."  After  this  explanation,  he  immediately  commenced  an 
exhortation  that  was  full  of  life  and  energy,  as  the  roused  spirit  of  the 
congregation  began  to  testify.  The  spirit  was  warmed  and  com 
menced  to  move,  and  they  continued  the  "good  time,"  a  long  time  after 
I  had  retired  and  fallen  asleep. 

A  few  evenings  after  this,  I  witnessed  a  gathering  of  quite  a  differ 
ent  character.  Upon  a  large  piazza  in  front  of  one  of  the  houses 
opposite  the  hospital,  a  large  number  of  negroes  had  collected,  and 
they  gave  us  quite  a  "  select  and  amusing  Ethiopian  entertainment" 
— solos,  quartettes,  and  choruses.  Negro  melodies  entirely  new  to 
my  ear,  peculiar  to  themselves,  with  low,  undulating,  wailing  choruses, 
sung  in  good  time  and  with  much  effect.  They  closed  the  evening's 
performance  with  a  general  "  break-down,"  and  of  all  the  grotesque, 
gymnastic,  elastic  movements  that  I  ever  witnessed,  that  capped  the 
climax.  They  cannot  be  imitated  with  any  degree  of  perfection.  As 
Ole  Jim  made  his  last  evolution,  and  sat  down  astride  the  banister, 
with  a  hearty  "  Yah  !  Yah  !  Sam  you  can't  do  dat  last." — "  Ah,"  says 
I,  "  George  Christy,  you  are  outdone,  outshown  ;  your  light  is  hid  for 
a  time  until  you  practice  more." 

I  can't  like  these  colored  people.  They  are  slow,  dirty  and  lazy. 
They  are  always  happy,  full  of  song  and  play.  They  have  not  the 
least  education,  nor  do  they  wish  to  have — it  is  too  much  labor  to 
study.  They  have  a  little  natural  wit,  and  if  there  is  no  work  to  be 
done,  can  aptly  understand  anything  you  tell  them.  They  are  some 
what  superstitious,  a  few  of  them  religious,  but  they  all  are  that 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  183 

same  class  of  lowbred,  nature  led,  indolent  human  beings,  and  it  is 
difficult  for  me  to  see  how  some  of  you  philanthropic  people  north  will 
ever  (as  you  say  can  be  done)  make  anything  else  of  them. 

The  steamer  United  States  came  into  Morehead  City,  Saturday.  She 
came  in  to  let  offGov.  Stanley,  who  has  been  on  a  visit  to  President 
Lincoln.  She  was  loaded  with  troops  for  Port  Royal.  Three  new 
regiments  are  expected  at  New  Berne.  Present  prospects  seem  to 
indicate  that  we  shall  have  some  fighting  to  do  this  winter.  It  looks 
as  if  an  advance  would  be  made  on  Goldsboro'  and  Rolla.  I  cannot 
see  any  necessity  for  as  many  troops  as  are  already  here,  and  as  rein 
forcements  are  constantly  arriving,  I  think  it  a  safe  conclusion  to  say 
that  we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  active  service  before  long. 

Captain  Lee  is  gaining  now  quite  rapidly.  He  will  soon  return  to 
duty,  and  you  may  expect  we  shall  have  work  to  do. 

J.  W.  M. 


NEWPORT  BARRACKS,  N.  C., ) 
October  25,  1862.  f 

Interesting  matter  is  scarce.  In  fact,  unusual  experiences,  par 
ticularly  in-  the  battle  line,  are  something  we  have  not  yet  met 
with,  nor  do  we  expect  to  do  so  for  some  time  to  come.  Our  hard 
est  battles  are  with  chills  and  fevers  and  other  local  diseases.  We 
are  coming  out  victorious,  as  we  have  now  but  three  men  in  the 
hospital  (Charles  Homan,  Perry ;  W.  E.  Chapin,  Arcade,  poisoned  ; 
E.  T.  M.  Hurlburt,  Warsaw,  chills  and  fever,  none  of  them  seri 
ously  ill),  and  those  in  camp  come  out  to  drill  with  an  earnestness 
and  activity  that  shows  an  increasing  health  and  strength  "  Jack 
Frost "  paid  his  addresses  for  the  first  time  night  before  last.  It 
would  be  preferable  if  he  would  just  send  in  his  card,  and  not 
come  upon  one  so  suddenly,  giving  one  no  time  to  make  prepara 
tions  to  resist  his  "  stinging  "  gripe.  It  was  so  cold,  that  long  be 
fore  morning  came  many  of  the  boys  went  out  to  the  guard's 
camp  fire  and  sat  around  that,  so  that  they  might  be  warm. 

Next  day  our  lieutenant  made  requisition  for  stoves,  and  our 
tents  are  now  a  cozy  little  dwelling  place,  furnished  generally  with 
home-made  bunks,  writing  table,  cupboard  and  a  Sibley  tent  stove. 
These  stoves  resemble  an  old-fashioned  engine  smoke  stack,  of  in- 


184  RECORDS   OF   THE 

ferior  proportions,  turned  upside  down,  and  only  faulty  in  one 
respect,  and  that  is  the  limited  accommodations  for  cooking.  Every 
mess  has  considerable  of  that  to  do,  the  day  being  spent  in  drill, 
cooking  and  dish  washing,  allowing  a  small  space  of  time  for  read 
ing  and  writing.  Provisions  are  high,  as  the  following  prices  will 
show :  Butter,  40c. ;  cheese,  25c.  ;  apples,  30c.  a  dozen  ;  milk,  6c.  per 
pint ;  brown  sugar,  20c.  ;  flour,  7c.  Sweet  potatoes  are  our  substan 
tial  food.  We  can  purchase  them  at  from  50c.  to  60c.  per  bushel. 

The  "Signal  Corps"  have  been  making  their  head-quarters  in  our 
camp  for  a  few  days.  They  are  making  a  line  of  signal  staffs  from 
New  Berne  to  Beaufort.  This  is  deemed  quite  necessary,  as  there  is 
no  telegraph  wire  upon  the  railroad.  These  staffs  are  placed  within 
five  or  six  miles  of  each  other  and  communication  carried  on  with 
flags.  Oftentimes  the  flags  are  only  visible  through  a  spy-glass.  On 
some  accounts  these  are  preferable  to  telegraph  wire,  since  a  guard 
can  be  stationed  at  each  one  of  them,  and  there  are  no  wires  to  be  cut. 
The  whole  line  has  been  surveyed,  and  men  will  soon  be  engaged  in 
putting  up  the  poles.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  activity  on  the  railroad 
just  now.  Extra  trains,  loaded  with  provisions  and  stores,  are  run 
ning  every  day,  seeming  to  indicate  that  there  will  be  a  change  some 
where  before  long.  We  expect  to  receive  orders  to  move  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  weeks.  I  should  not  at  all  wonder  if  an  active 
campaign  were  carried  on  in  North  Carolina  this  winter. 

To-day  Lieutenant  George  Hastings  arrived  with  a  number  of  new 
recruits,  having  taken  a  "tug"  at  Hatteras  and  come  up  the  Neuse  to 
New  Berne.  The  remainder  of  his  party  went  on  to  Beaufort  in  the 
steamer. 

J.  W.  M 


NEWPORT  BARRACKS,  N.  C., ) 
November  25,  1862.         J 

Our  commissioned  officers  are  kind,  gentlemanly  and  even  for 
bearing  to  us  privates,  though  for  all  that  they  hold  us  up  none 
the  less  strictly  to  military  rules  and  regulations.  They  are  good, 
moral,  temperate  men,  and  waste  no  time  in  idleness.  Not  one  of 
them  either  would,  from  personal  antipathy  or  dislike,  refuse  to 
any  one  under  his  command  all  the  liberties '  allowed  them,  or  in 
sickness  refuse  to  do  anything  in  his  power  to  relieve  or  aid  them. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK   BATTERY.  185 

Old  feuds  are  fast  dying   out,  and   it  is  very  seldom  now  that  you 
even  hear  them  mentioned. 

There  is  no  dissension  concerning  officers.  I  really  wonder  at  the 
unanimity  of  feeling  that  prevailed,  as  the  two  companies,  one  having 
been  a  year  in  service  and  the  other  raw  recruits,  came  together  and 
divided  up  the  non-commissioned  offices.  There  was  wonderfully  lit 
tle  dissatisfaction  expressed — hardly  any — at  the  order  making  the 
division  and  appointing  the  officers  of  the  company,  as  I  gave  you  in 
my  letter  of  November  11. 

We  are  neither  becoming  dissipated,  lazy  or  slovenly.  "  Camp  life 
develops  the  bad  qualities  of  bad  men,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is 
favorable  to  the  highest  exhibition  of  virtue,  of  gentleness  and  of 
heroism."  So  says  one  of  the  popular  authorities  of  the  day,  and  such 
in  my  little  experience  in  that  kind  of  life  I  find  to  be  true.  Drunk 
enness  is  a  thing  almost  unknown  among  us.  I  never  have  seen  but 
three  men  since  I  have  been  here  that  were  under  the  influence  of 
liquor.  We  cannot  very  well  be  idle,  as  we  have  five  hours'  drill  per 
day,  beside  police  duty  ;  and  just  now  Lieutenant  Cady,  with  gangs 
of  men  selected  from  the  company,  has  two  sawmills  in  operation  ; 
one  upright  saw  with  water  power,  and  one  circular  saw  with  steam 
power. 

As  for  slovenness,  I  am  certain  any  "  committee  of  housekeepers," 
upon  an  examination  of  our  tents,  would  return  a  report  of  "  well 
done  for  boys"  To  conclude  this  subject,  I  would  say,  that  in  con 
versation  with  all  of  the  boys,  I  find  them  contented  and  well  satisfied 
with  their  officers  and  their  associates,  and  I  do  not  think  you  could 
persuade  one  of  them  to  accept  a  discharge  from  the  service,  unless 
the  war  had  ended  and  there  was  a  prospect  of  peace. 

As  the  winter  approaches  there  is  no  necessity  for  our  anxious 
mothers  and  kind  fathers  to  have  any  anxiety  concerning  our  being 
comfortable  and  warm.  Our  tents  are  tight  and  water-proof.  Most* 
of  us  have  taken  boards  from  four-and-a-half  to  five-and-a-half  feet  in 
length,  pointed  them,  and  driven  them  about  a  foot  in  the  ground  in 
a  circle  around  the  tent.  We  then  raised  the  canvas  to  the  top  of  the 
boards,  already  battened  and  banked  up.  This  makes  the  tent  very 
warm  and  roomy.  In  ours  we  built  a  fireplace.  And  in  the  evening 
the  blaze  of  the  pitch-pine  lightens  as  cheerful  and  happy  a  picture  as 
any  would  care  to  look  upon.  In  fact,  I  am  a  little  ashamed  to  own 


186  RECORDS    OF   THE 

that  we  are  so  comfortable.  It  hasn't  the  smack  of  hardship,  &c.,  that 
we  expected  and  rather  desired  to  experience.  It  hasn't  the  dash  and 
the  wildness  about  it  that  younger  persons  consider  necessary  to  fill 
out  their  idea  of  a  soldier's  life. 

J.  W.  M. 


NEWPORT  BARRACKS,  N.  C.J 
November  28,  1862.         J 

Yesterday  was  Thanksgiving  Day.  The  day  previous,  our  detach 
ment  worked  hard  in  the  woods  all  day  chopping  logs  and  floating 
them  down  the  river  to  the  sawmill.  On  account  of  a  lack  of  pork 
and  beef  in  the  commissary  department,  we  fared,  while  at  work, 
upon  "  hard-tack  "  and  coffee.  As  a  consequence,  we  had  appetites 
on  Thanksgiving  Day  that  a  poor  dyspeptic  might  well  envy.  The 
following  was  the  dinner  programme : 

SOUPS. 

Fresh  Beef.  Chicken. 

MEATS. 

Fresh  Beef,  boiled.  Fresh  Pork,  fried. 

Chickens,  stewed. 

,VEGETABLES. 

Sweet  Potatoes,  boiled  and  fried.     Onions,  boiled  and  buttered. 
Turnips,  boiled. 

EXTRAS. 

Coflee.  Fresh  Bread.  Tea. 

Crackers.  Molasses.  Sugar. 

Butter.  Salt.  Pepper. 

DESSERT. 

Pancakes  and  honey.  Sweet  Potato  Pie. 

Pitch  Pine  Gum.  Apples. 

If  you  can  beat  that  "  bill  of  fare,"  and  have  an  appetite  correspond 
ing  with  it,  I'll  "  cave."  All  I  have  to  say,  to  explain  the  reason  for 
such  an  abundance  of  chicken  and  honey  is,  that  the  evening  previous 
a  half  dozen  from  our  detachment  passed  guard  in  and  out  without 
any  countersign,  except  the  presentation  of  a  couple  of  chickens  to  the 
guard  as  they  passed  in. 


TWENTY-tfOUKTH    NEW   YOKK   BATTERY.  1ST 

Passes  were  allowed  to  be  given  by  the  sergeants  at  their  own  dis 
cretion.  After  dinner  the  whole  camp  was  nearly  deserted.  Toward 
six  o'clock  stragglers  marched  into  camp  with  chickens,  pork,  beef, 
honey,  &c.,  at  shoulder  arms.  It  was  very  fortunate,  as  the  quarter 
master's  stores  are  just  now  at  a  low  ebb. 

After  evening  roll-call,  the  Massachusetts  boys  invited  us  all  to 
come  up  to  the  building  formerly  used  as  a  hospital,  and  have  a 
dance.  The  hall  was  decorated  with  flags,  knapsacks,  accoutrements, 
&c.,  and  splendidly  lighted  with  three  long  tallow  candles.  The  dazzle 
of  gilt,  of  "straps"  and  "stripes,"  was  indeed  a  gay  sight.  The 
music  was  furnished  by  Ferguson's  band.  Order  was  called  by  the 
tap  of  the  fiddle  bow  on  the  back  of  the  fiddle.  Two  sets  were 
formed  ;  the  head  of  the  room  taken  by  the  major.  Order  and 
decorum  were  preserved  throughout.  The  "  ladies "  received  the 
most  obsequious  and  constant  attention.  Gallantry,  not  of  the  cox 
comb  order,  was  the  order  of  the  evening.  All  went  "  merry  as  a 
marriage  bell,"  till  the  bugle  sounded  the  taps  about  eleven  o'clock, 
when  all  quietly  dispersed. 


188  RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

KINSTON,    GOLDSBORO'    AND    WHITEHALL. 

On  the  llth  of  December,  General  Foster,  then  com 
manding  the  department  of  North  Carolina, .  gathered 
together  his  available  troops  and  made  an  advance  from 
New  Berne  towards  Goldsboro'.  General  G.  W.  Smith 
had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  Confederate  troops 
in  the  same  department.  They  were  supposed  to  number 
about  12,000.  The  main  object  of  General  Foster  was 
to  reach  Goldsboro'  and  destroy  the  railroads  centering 
at  that  point.  This  place  was  then  on  the  main  line  of 
communication  from  Richmond,  south.  General  Foster's 
force  consisted  of  between  10,000  and  15,000  men,  com 
posed  of  four  brigades ;  the  right  commanded  by  General 
Wessels,  the  left  by  Colonel  Lee  ;  right  centre  by  Col. 
Amory,  the  left  centre  by  Col.  Stevenson.  In  the  centre, 
unattached  to  brigades,  were  Captain  Ransom's  and  Capt. 
Lee's  Batteries ;  one  battery  of  the  Third  New  York 
Regiment  Artillery,  and  two  sections  of  heavy  guns — one 
of  32-pound  howitzers  and  one  of  20-pound  Parrot  guns. 

The  first  and  third  detachments  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
New  York  Battery  were  all  that  participated  in  the  march. 
Many  men  from  the  other  detachments  filled  the  vacan 
cies  that  occurred  from  sickness,  &c. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  189 

Thursday,  the  llth,  the  force  marched  about  fifteen 
miles. 

On  Friday,  the  advance  was  slow,  on  account  of  meet 
ing  with  fallen  trees  that  the  rebels  had  placed  in  the 
roads,  and  with  burned  bridges  which  they  had  fired  as 
they  retreated.  There  was  skirmishing  throughout  the 
day,  but  no  regular  engagement  occurred. 

On  Saturday,  the  section  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New 
York  Battery,  with  the  Forty-sixth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment  for  a  support,  separated  from  the  main  body,  and 
took,  per  Border,  the  more  direct  road  to  Kinston.  They 
were  sent  to  guard  some  point  of  cross  roads,  which  they 
reached  at  about  twelve  o'clock  that  night. 

Sunday  morning,  the  Forty-sixth  Regiment  and  the 
third  detachment  returned  by  a  short  road  to  the  main 
body,  and  a  company  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry  was 
sent  over  and  joined  the  first  detachment  of  the  Battery. 

The  third  detachment  was  sent  in  another  direction,  to 
guard  a  bridge  at  which  there  had  been  some  skirmish 
ing  the  day  previous. 

The  first  detachment  continued  its  march,  and  about  ten 
o'clock,  as  they  approached  a  small  creek,  they  discovered 
about  1,000  rebel  infantry  and  a  detachment  of  artillery, 
prepared  to  dispute  the  pass.  The  cavalry  dismounted, 
deployed,  and,  with  their  carbines,  acted  as  a  support  to 
the  Battery.  Our  boys  then  opened  on  them  with  shell. 
After  about  an  hour's  fighting  the  enemy  retreated,  taking 
with  them  their  killed  and  wounded.  After  they  were 
positive  that  the  enemy  had  gone,  the  Federals  rebuilt  the 
bridge  that  had  been  burned,  crossed  it,  and  arrived  at 
Kinston  at  four  o'clock.  This  was  their  part  of  the 
battle  of  Kinston. 


190  RECORDS    OF    THE 

The  battle  by  the  main  body  was  fought  on  another 
road — the  enemy  gradually  falling  back,  until  they  came 
to  the  bridge,  at  which  time  the  Ninth  New  Jersey 
charged  and  took  two  brass  guns.  While  crossing  a 
bridge,  Colonel  Gray,  of  the  Ninety- sixth  New  York, 
was  instantly  killed  by  a  musket  ball,  which  struck  him 
in  the  breast,  and  passed  through  his  heart.  The  rebels 
attempted  to  fire  the  bridge,  but  failed.  Six  guns  were 
taken  by  a  company  of  our  cavalry  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  That  night  the  whole  army  entered  Kinston. 
Through  the  main  street  a  pile  of  cotton,  reaching  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  mile,  was  burning.  Many  other  things 
the  rebels  had  set  fire  to,  and  the  inhabitants  had  almost 
entirely  deserted  the  place.  Some  of  our  soldiers  went 
to  the  extreme  in  plundering  the  houses  and  stores. 

Monday,  the  army  recrossed  the  bridge  at  Kinston, 
which  was  a  very  long  one.  After  they  had  all  passed 
over,  the  bridge  was  burned.  They  then  pressed  on 
towards  Goldsboro',  making  a  march  of  about  fifteen 
miles  that  day. 

Tuesday,  a  sharp  and  brisk  fight  occurred  near  White 
hall:  Our  boys  were  under  fire  nearly  three  hours. 
Finally  the  rebels  retreated,  and  our  army  destroyed  two 
new  gunboats  which  were  in  process  of  building. 

Wednesday,  they  advanced  to  the  bridge  at  Goldsboro'. 
Here  quite  a  severe  action  took  place.  Many  were 
killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides.  The  United  States 
troops  succeeded  in  burning  the  railroad  bridge  and  tear 
ing  up  about  five  miles  of  the  track.  General  Foster 
learned  that  the  Confederates  had  concentrated  a  superior 
force  at  Goldsboro',  and  determined  that  it  was  unwise 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK    BATTERY.  191 

to  make  any  further  advance.  The  next  morning,  there 
fore,  the  line  of  march  faced  homewards,  and  a  rapid  re 
treat  was  made  to  New  Berne. 

They  reached  that  place  on  the  24th,  having  been 
about  ten  days  and  marched  about  two  hundred  miles. 
The  Federals  lost  90  killed  and  478  wounded.  The  Con 
federates  lost  71  killed,  268  wounded  and  476  prisoners, 
most  of  whom  were  immediately  paroled. 

The  following  order  was  afterwards  read  to  the  troops 
in  General  Foster's  command : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  EIGHTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS,  [ 
NEW  BERNE,  January  15,  1863.  $ 

[General  Order  No.  18.] 

In  consideration  of,  and  as  a  reward  for,  their  brave  deeds  at  Kins- 
ton,  Whitehall  and  Goldsboro',  the  Commanding  General  directs  that 
the  regiments  and  batteries  which  accompanied  the  expedition  to 
Goldsboro'  inscribe  on  their  banners  those  three  victories — 
Kinston,  December  14th,  1862. 
Whitehall,       "        16th,     " 
Goldsboro',       "        17th,    " 

The  Commanding  General  hopes  that  the  future  fields  may  be  so 
fought  that  the  record  of  them  may  be  kept  by  inscription  on  the 
banners  of  the  regiments  engaged. 

By  command  of  Major  General  J.  G.  Foster. 
SOUTHARD  HOFFMAN, 

Asst.  Adjt.  General. 


192  RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTEE    VII. 

1863. 

NEW    BERNE. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  the  troops  from  the  expedition 
to  Goldsboro',  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery  re 
ceived  six  very  handsome  new  six-pounder  Napoleon 
guns,  an  additional  supply  of  horses,  new  harness  and 
new  equipments  throughout.  The  men,  consequently, 
had  plenty  of  employment  in  breaking  in  the  new 
horses  and  engaging  daily  in  battery  drill.  Prior  to  this, 
detachment  and  section  drill  had  been  all  that  we  had 
been  taught.  The  rapid  and  sometimes  intricate  move 
ments  of  the  light  artillery  battery  in  a  field  require 
practice  as  well  as  coolness  and  skill  in  execution.  For 
instance,  the  command  "  Left  Wheel  "  is  a  simple  ejacu 
lation.  But  let  us  view  a  battery  as  they  execute  it — six 
guns  positioned  in  line,  abreast  at  intervals  of  four  yards, 
with  six  horses  attached  to  each  gun.  Three  yards  behind 
each  gun  stands  a  caisson,  with  six  horses  attached,  a 
rider  to  each  span  of  horses.  The  bugle  sounds  the  com 
mand.  Immediately  the  left  piece  becomes  a  centre,  on 
which  turns  the  long  s\veep  of  horses,  pieces  and  caissons. 
As  the  distance  from  the  centre  increases,  so  proportion 
ally  must  the  rapidity  of  motion  increase,  to  keep  up  an 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  193 

unbroken  line.  Imagine  now  liow  swiftly  must  the 
piece  on  the  extreme  right  move,  to  retain  its  position 
and  its  distances.  If  your  mind  cannot  comprehend  it, 
sit  on  the  extreme  end  of  a  whirlagig,  and  ride  once 
around  the  circle. 

Horses  enjoy  the  excitement,  and  they  learn  to  know 
different  commands  of  the  bugle.  The  men,  too,  become 
aroused  and  interested,  and  the  maneuvers  of  a  well- 
drilled  battery  are  a  pleasing  and  exciting  sight  to  any 
one.  The  Battery  boys  were  now  beginning  to  taste  a 
little  of  the  experiences  that  they  had  read  of  and  hoped 
to  participate  in.  They  were  proud  of  their  organization, 
and  had  good  reason  to  be. 

The  city  of  New  Berne  was  being  strongly  fortified. 
A  new  parapet  wras  thrown  up  in  nearly  a  continuous 
line  from  river  to  river,  enclosing  the  entire  city.  Fort 
Totten,  in  the  centre  of  the  line  of  fortifications,  was 
large,  and  filled  with  heavy  artillery.  There  were  also 
many  smaller  forts. 

The  major  portion  of  the  artillery  belonging  to  the 
command  was  stationed  near  Fort  Totten.  The  Twen 
ty-fourth  Battery  was  on  the  hill  at  the  left  of  the  fort. 
Here,  with  the  lumber  which  had  been  obtained  by 
working  the  sawmill  at  Newport  Barracks,  we  put  up 
some  substantial  stables,  cook-house,  &c.  At  the  same 
time  provided  with  plenty  of  tents,  we  made  very  com 
fortable  quarters  for  ourselves. 

On  the  17th  of  January  an  expedition  was  sent  from 
Xew  Berne  to  Trenton.  Camp  furnishes  us  with  the 
following  account  of  it : 

13 


194:  RECORDS    OF    THE 

The  force  consisted  of  the  Forty-third,  Forty-fifth  and  Fifty-first 
Regiments,  Mass.  Vols.  Infantry  ;  eight  companies  of  the  Third  N.  Y. 
Cavalry  ;  one  section  of  the  Twenty-third  N.  Y.  Indpt.  Battery ; 
one  section  of  the  Twenty  fourth  N.  Y.  Indpt.  Battery,  and  a  small 
force  of  engineers.  The  entire  expedition  consisting  of  1,500  infantry, 
600  cavalry,  100  artillery  and  engineers. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Eminory,  Mass.  Vols.,  commanded. 
The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  make  a  feint  on  Goldsboro'  and 
Warsaw,  and  thus  detain  troops  which  might  be  sent  to  Richmond 
or  Petersburg!!,  to  resist  a  movement,  which  was  planned  by  our  forces 
in  that  vicinity.  The  expedition  moved  from  New  Berne  on  Saturday, 
January  17th,  1863,  at  6  o'clock,  A.M.,  and  camped  that  night  at  Pol- 
locksville,  a  place  sixteen  miles  from  New  Berne,  situated  on  the  Trent 
River,  and  then  containing  about  twenty  houses.  We  were  obliged 
to  encamp  here,  because  the  enemy  had  obstructed  our  further  pro 
gress  by  felling  trees  across  the  road,  as  they  retreated  before  us. 

On  the  18th  we  proceeded  to  Trenton,  where  we  arrived  about  two 
o'clock,  P.  M.  As  our  cavalry  approached  the  town,  they  were  fired 
upon  by  some  rebel  cavalry,  who  were  endeavoring  to  cut  away  a 
mill  dam,  and  thus  swell  the  stream,  and  detain  us.  But  a  few  shots 
from  the  cavalry  howitzer  caused  them  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  and  as 
we  entered,  they  left  the  town.  We  encamped  here  that  night,  and 
the  next  morning  burned  two  bridges  over  the  Trent  River,  the  jail, 
a  grist  and  sawmill.  And  after  we  had  crossed  the  stream,  tore  open 
the  mill  dam,  and  returned  to  Pollocksville,  where  we  arrived  about 
three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

It  was  while  crossing  this  stream,  which  was  swollen  to  the  horse's 
belly,  that  Benjamin  Hollister,  who  was  driving  the  middle  team  of 
the  gun,  happened  to  sneeze  out  his  upper  teeth — poor  Ben. — a  sicker 
looking  mortal  never  existed.  He  proposed  to  have  the  troops  stop, . 
and  look  for  his  teeth  ;  but  in  a  glance  saw  that  they  were  gone  from 
him  for  ever — and  he,  three  days  from  camp,  doomed  to  gum  it  on 
hard  tack,  or  perish.  Self-preservation,  that  great  first  law,  was 
adopted  by  Ben.,  and  accordingly  he  stopped  at  many  houses  on  the 
road  to  get  meal  to  make  soft  bread  and  mush  of,  and  in  this  way 
worked  through  until  we  got  into  camp  again.  At  Pollocksville  we 
encamped  again  for  the  night,  and  having  on  the  first  night's  encamp 
ment  burnt  all  the  fence  rails  and  cleared  things  generally,  all  that 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY. 


195 


now  remained  to  complete  the  ruin,  was  done  during  the  night  by  the 
troops  engaging  in  that  innocent  amusement  of  burning  buildings  ; 
and  on  the  next  morning  five  or  six  buildings  were  all  that  remained 
of  Pollocksville. 

On  the  20th,  we  marched  to  Young's  Cross  road,  on  the  White  Oak 
River,  ten  miles  from  Pollocksville,  arriving  there  about  noon.  The 
enemy  had  destroyed  the  bridge,  but  our  engineers  soon  constructed 
a  suitable  one,  and  our  cavalry  crossed  and  started  for  Jacksonville, 
leaving  the  infantry  and  artillery.  On  their  way  to  Jacksonville 
(which  is  on  the  New  River,  twenty  miles  from  Young's  Cross  Road,) 
they  met  and  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  running  fight,  for  nine  miles, 
losing  two  men  killed  and  taking  but  one  rebel  prisoner.  The  rebs 
burned  the  bridge,  150  feet  long,  over  the  river  at  Jacksonville,  to 
prevent  our  troops  crossing.  We  encamped  here  for  the  night,  and 
it  rained  most  furiously.  The  cavalry  returned  during  the  night, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  we  started  back  for  New  Berne, 
where  we  arrived  about  six  o'clock,  P.  M.  The  roads,  on  our  re 
turn,  were  as  bad  as  they  could  be  consistently,  and  we  had  consider 
able  trouble  in  crossing  corduroy  roads,  between  the  cross  roads  and 
Pollocksville.  And  when  on  a  trot,  at  one  time,  the  fore  wheel  of  the 
gun  carriage  upon  which  Jerry  McClair  sat,  broke  through  the^cor- 
duroy  ;  so  suddenly  was  the  carriage  stopped,  that  Jerry  was  thrown 
from  his  seat  sprawling  into  the  ditch,  and  completely  drenched  with 
mud  and  water.  Again,  when  near  New  Berne,  in  crossing  a  smooth 
level  piece  of  ground,  on  a  full  trot,  the  wheel  of  the  caisson,  on  which 
Wilbur  M.  Hoyt  sat,  struck  a  rut  and  threw  him  off  in  such  a  way, 
that  his  head  lay  so  near  the  track  that  the  hind  wheel  run  over  the 
cap  he  had  on  his  head,  and  barely  escaped  the  head,  which  must 
have  been  crushed  had  it  been  run  over.  When  on  our  way  to  Trenton 
from  Pollocksville,  Major  Frankle  gave  out  strict  orders  against 
foraging  or  plundering,  but  Pierce  Fitzpatrick,  who  was  along,  as  an 
extra  duty  man,  not  knowing  what  his  especial  duty  was,  further 
than  serving  his  country  as  he  might  perhaps  have  to  do,  and  being 
provided  with  an  extra  horse,  he  conceived  a  plan  whereby  he  might 
minister  to  the  wants  of  the  Twenty-fourthers,  and  make  it  pay  also. 
He  fancied  that  he  was  especially  constituted  for  his  plan,  for  he  could 
keep  one  eye  on  the  Provost  Marshal  and  the  other  on  chances  to 
gobble.  And  that  essential  qualification,  combined  with  business 


196  RECORDS    OF    THE 

tact,  he  thought  would  carry  him  through  safely,  without  any  doubt 
whatever.  He  therefore  provided  himself  with  some  paper  and  a 
pencil,  and  wrote  receipts  for  money  which  he  might  pay  or  not,  for 
geese,  turkeys,  or  chickens,  &c  ,  and  our  receipt  would  cover  any  or 
all  he  would  get,  for  had  it  been  written  in  Greek  it  was  equally  as  in 
telligible,  but  Pierce  said  it  was  as  good  as  the  natives  could  generally 
write,  and  if  he  should  get  caught,  the  receipt,  as  he  interpreted  it, 
would  be  good  and  satisfactory  to  the  "  Dutch  Provost." 

Accordingly,  he  sailed  off  on  his  steed,  to  the  head  of  the  column, 
and  when  the  first  chance  offered  he  started  for  a  large  plantation 
house,  and  there  gobbled,  after  some  trouble,  two  geese,  which  he 
started  for  the  company  with.  But  just  as  he  came  out  of  the  lane, 
who  should  he  meet  but  the  Provost,  who  accused  him  of  plundering, 
and  ordered  him  to  put  the  geese  into  an  ambulance,  and  fall  in  with 
the  guard,  under  arrest,  at  the  rear  of  the  column.  Pierce  protested 
and  produced  his  receipt,  but  the  Provost  avowed  he  was  not  going 
to  be  humbugged  by  him,  and  placed  him,  accordingly,  under  arrest ; 
where  he  remained  until  the  following  day,  when,  at  the  instance  of 
Captain  Ransom,  he  was  released. 

When  we  arrived  at  Young's  Cross  Roads,  being  short  of  rations, 
whigh  was  reported  at  head-quarters,  the  Provost  sent  Pierce  the 
geese,  which  had  in  the  meantime  spoiled.  And  there  it  was  that 
Pierce's  righteous  indignation  was  fully  aroused,  and  he  d — n'd  the 
Dutch  Provost.  Here,  at  Young's  Cross  Roads,  we  were  not  in  camp 
more  than  ten  minutes  before  we  had  two  hogs  killed,  and  well  nigh 
dressed  ;  but  not  wanting  but  one  we  gave  the  other  to  some  infantry 
men,  belonging  to  the  Forty-third  regiment ;  while  taking  it  to  their 
camp,  they  were  arrested  and  placed  in  irons.  At  the  same  time 
nothing  was  done  with  our  boys.  We  here  reported  being  out  of 
rations  for  our  horses,  and  were  accordingly  granted  permission  to 
pass  the  picket  guard,  and  wrhen  outside,  we  found  an  old  bachelor 
who  had  a  smoke  house  full  of  hams,  and  we  accordingly  filled  our 
sacks  with  hams  instead  of  corn,  and  brought  them  in,  and  had  seve 
ral  in  camp  ;  when  in  passing  the  officer  of  the  guard,  coming  in,  one 
of  the  bags  untied  and  let  out  the  would-be  corn  (hams),  and  thus 
revealed  the  case,  and  put  a  stop  to  foraging  in  a  hurry.  We  lived 
well  on  that  march,  and  enjoyed  it  very  much. 

About  January  26th,  1863,  General  Foster  left  New 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  197 

Berne  with  a  good  share  of  the  troops  under  his  com 
mand,  to  co-operate  with  a  fleet  which  sailed  for  Charles 
ton,  S.  C.,  from  Beaufort,  N.  C.  As  the  Twenty-fourth 
Battery  did  not  accompany  this  expedition,  an  account 
of  it  would  not  be  in  place  in  this  book.  It  is  enough  for 
us  to  say,  that  on  account  of  a  misunderstanding  between 
Generals  Foster  and  Hunter,  the  land  forces  accomplished 
nothing  at  Port  Royal,  their  place  of  destination.  We 
believe  this  was  termed  Admiral  Dupont's  expedition. 
Gen.  Foster  returned  with  a  portion  of  his  troops,  about 
the  middle  of  February.  During  his  absence  all  the  camps 
had  been  incited  to  rivalry  in  beauty  of  appearance. 
Streets  were  laid  out  in  the  camps,  and  rows  of  evergreens 
were  planted  along  the  walks.  Arbors  were  constructed 
in  front  of  the  tents,  overspreading  brick  walks  and 
oyster  shell  door-steps.  The  grounds  were  policed  twice 
a  week.  Everything  had  an  appearance  of  neatness, 
beauty  and  health. 

New  uniforms,  shining  brass,  white  gloves,  blacked 
boots  and  salutes  to  every  officer  you  met — were  the 
order  of  the  day. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  a  grand  review  of  all  the 
troops  in  the  department  was  made  by  General  Foster. 
In  this  display  of  tinsel,  music,  array  of  men,  and  the 
usually  imposing  sight  produced  by  a  large  number  of 
soldiers  in  line  and  column,  this  review  was  the  feature 
of  our  ornamental  service  in  New  Berne. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  March,  two  brigades  of 
infantry,  two  or  three  sections  of  batteries  and  a  half  a 
dozen  companies  of  cavalry  were  ordered  out  upon  the 
Trent  road.  The  first  section  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Bat- 


198  RECORDS    OF    THE 

tery  was  sent  to  Newport  Barracks  by  railroad.  The  fol 
lowing  morning  the  section,  together  with  the  Fifty-first 
Massachusetts  Infantry  regiment  and  two  companies  of 
cavalry,  started  for  Cedar  Point,  a  landing  directly  oppo 
site  Swansboro,  on  the  White  Oak  river. 

Arriving  at  Cedar  Point,  we  held  that  place  until  signals 
were  given  from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  by  the  large 
force  which  had  marched  directly  from  New  Berne,  that 
Swansboro  had  been  entered  and  only  two  rebel  soldiers 
could  be  found. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  supposed  to  have 
been  to  capture  a  couple  of  companies  of  rebel  infantry 
and  some  cavalry,  which  was  reported  to  have  been  lurk 
ing  about  in  that  region.  A  total  of  ten  or  twelve  were 
captured.  The  rest  had  fled.  The  Battery  returned  on 
Tuesday. 

On  March  14th,  Company  A,  of  the  Third  N.  Y.  Cav 
alry  and  two  companies  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Mass.,  who 
were  occupying  a  picket  post  six  miles  from  the  city,  on 
the  Trent  road,  were  attacked  by  quite  a  large  force  of 
rebels.  * 

One  of  the  cavalry  boys  was  killed.  They  were 
obliged  to  retreat  from  their  camp  and  take  a  position 
a  few  miles  this  side,  at  the  Jackson  house.  Cavalry 
reinforcements  were  immediately  sent  to  them,  and  in 
fantry  and  artillery  followed.  The  morning  following 
the  camp  of  the  Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Regiment,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Neuse  river  were  attacked  by  a  brigade 
of  rebel  infantry  and  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery.  The 
Ninety-second  stood  it  bravely  amid  a  perfect  shower  of 
o-rape  and  shell.  The  gun  boats  came  to  their  immediate 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW   YORK   BATTERY.  199 

assistance.  The  rebels  then  commenced  shelling  our 
gun  boats,  some  coming  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
Dudley  Buck,  and  some  striking  in  the  camp  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Mass.  Our  Battery  was  ordered  down  to 
the  river  shore,  we  were  there  in  twenty  minutes  after  re 
ceiving  the  order.  The  distance  across  the  river  being 
two  miles  and  a  half,  we  could  not  reach  them  with  shell 
and  were  obliged  to  use  solid  shot.  The  Twenty-third 
arrived  about  half  an  hour  afterwards.  General  Petti- 
grew,  commanding  the  rebels,  sent  into  the  garrison  of 
the  Ninety-second  three  times  for  them  to  surrender,  and 
after  sending  his  compliments,  and  refusing  to  do  so 
twice,  the  third  time  Colonel  Anderson  told  him  to  go  to 

h 1.     Under  the  heavy  fire  of  all  our  artillery  he  soon 

retreated.  Our  loss  was  three  wounded.  The  rebel  loss, 
six  killed,  twenty-two  wounded,  and  twenty-five  horses 
killed. 


200  feECOKDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTER    IX. 
1863. 

PLYMOUTH. 

Soon  after  the  feint,  as  described  in  the  last  chapter, 
was  made  upon  New  Berne,  advices  were  received  from 
Washington,  N".  C.,  and  Plymouth,  that  an  advance  was 
being  made  upon  those  towns.  A  section  of  the  Twen 
ty-fourth  New  York  Battery  was  immediately  sent  to 
Plymouth,  and  by  the  1st  of  April  the  whole  Battery 
had  been  shipped  to  the  same  place.  To  the  members 
of  the  Battery  this  proved  to  be  our  destination  for  a 
much  longer  time  than  was  thought  of  at  the  time  of 
the  removal.  It  was  a  small  garrison,  well  defended, 
and  so  situated  that,  as  afterwards  was  demonstrated,  a 
small  force  could  hold  five  times  its  strength  and  num 
bers  at  bay  for  a  long  time. 

The  houses  in  the  town  had  been  .mostly  deserted  by 
their  original  inhabitants,  and  the  larger  ones  were  taken 
possession  of  by  the  troops  for  quarters. 

It  was  a  small  village,  situated  on  Roanoke  River,  and 
probably  numbered  in  its  palmy  days  fifteen  hundred  to 
two  thousand  inhabitants ;  streets  regular  and  shade 
trees  in  abundance.  Prior  to  our  reaching  this  place, 
many  of  the  buil dings,  during  an  attack  upon  it,  had 


TWEXTY-FOtJRTri    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  201 

been  burned  to  the  ground.  Aside  from  the  desolated 
appearance  that  these  ruins  gave,  the  town  was  pleasant 
and  pretty.  The  river  furnished  a  variety  of  fish  in 
great  abundance,  and  the  countrymen  were  allowed  to 
bring  in  meats,  eggs,  green  corn,  poultry,  honey,  &c.,  in 
their  respective  seasons,  while  the  negroes,  who  were 
settled  in  the  inferior  huts  about  the  suburbs,  were  em 
ployed  as  cooks  ;  so  that,  all  in  all,  we  were  about  as 
comfortable  as  soldiers  could  legitimately  be  permitted 
to  be.  The  only  objection  to  remaining  in  the  place  was 
a  prevalence  of  miasmatic  and  intermittent  fevers. 

The  siege  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  was  of  short  duration 
—the  rebels  soon  retreating ;  they  were  pursued  a  short 
distance  towards  Kinston,  but  no  general  battle  took  place. 

Upon  evidence  of  a  permanent  stay  being  given  to 
the  officers  of  the  Battery,  the  members  were  busily  em 
ployed  at  building  stables,  converting  houses  into  quar 
ters,  and  fitting  up  grounds  for  our  park. 

The  guns  were  parked,  and  for  a  time  we  served 
as  cavalry  on  short  scouts  into  the  surrounding  country, 
searching  for  spies,  guerrillas,  traders  and  forage. 

These  expeditions  were  exciting  and  enjoyable,  con 
ducive  to  good  health  and  the  developing  of  muscle; 
they  were,  as  a  rule,  successful,  we  seldom  failing  to 
bring  in  either  prisoners,  contrabands  or  contraband  goods. 

Being  on  an  outpost,  the  commanding  officer  was  thus 
enabled  to  keep  himself  pretty  well  informed  of  any 
movements  of  the  enemy. 

The  garrison  life  at  Plymouth  was,  as  a  whole,  a  pleas 
ant  experience.  Our  quarters  were  comfortable  and  all 
our  corporeal  wants  well  cared  for.  The  occasional  scout 


202  RECORDS    OF    THE 

into  the  country  furnished  excitement,  topics  for  conver 
sation,  and  contraband  goods  from  the  deserted  houses  of 
rebels,  which  last  added  much  to  the  comfort  and  adorn 
ment  of  our  tents  and  barracks.  Our  drill  no  more  than 
afforded  proper  healthful  exercise.  Our  guard  and  camp 
duty  was  only  sufficient  to  keep  us  in  proper  discipline. 
We  were  allowed  the  limits  of  the  town,  and  had  we 
been  settled  in  the  village  of  Perry,  as  strangers,  we 
could  not  have  been  made  more  happy  or  comfortable. 
We  have  a  letter,  dated  September  10,  1863,  and,  as  it 
describes  about  the  ordinary  routine  of  duty  at  that  gar 
rison,  we  quote  from  it : 

The  languor  and  idleness  introduced  into  the  human  organiza 
tion  by  the  present  state  of  the  weather  is  indescribable  and  almost 
unendurable.  With  the  tent  canvas  thrown  open  at  both  the 
front  and  rear  of  the  tent,  we  seek  to  "  raise  a  breeze  ''  and  dispel 
the  intensely  hot  atmosphere  that  pervades  even  the  shaded  places. 
We  almost  wish  that  it  were  within  the  rules  of  propriety  and 
the  United  States  regulations  to  appear  in  Georgia  cavalry  uniform, 
viz.,  a  palm-leaf  hat  and  a  pair  of  spurs. 

The  uncomfortable  sensation  of  being  too  warm  is  not  the  worst 
of  it.  It  creates  right  down  laziness,  a  disposition  to  seek  a  posi 
tion  "  far  niente,"  and  to  wear  the  time  listlessly  away.  But  I  must 
write  home.  I  have  no  subject  to  write  upon,  no  tale  to  tell.  We 
are  doing  nothing  but  grooming  horses,  polishing  brass,  oiling  re 
volvers  and  scouring  sabres.  Afterwards,  at  our  leisure,  as  the  sun 
goes  down  and  the  atmosphere  becomes  cooler,  we  circulate  through 
the  town,  mounted. 

In  the  evening  we  enjoy  story  telling,  and  have  our  musical  socia 
bles.  We  have  a  melodeon,  guitar,  violins  and  a  flute — quite  an 
orchestra,  isn't  it  ? 

Let  me  describe  to  you  my  day's  labor,  and  I  know  you  will  laugh 
with  me. 

C.  went  with  his  detachment  on  a  scouting  expedition  up  the  river, 
on  the  steamer  Rucker.  As  they  started  early,  I  rose  at  5  A.  M.,  and 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  20o 

prepared  breakfast.  Our  culinary  department  is  quite  extensive  ;  and 
as  I  have  often  informed  you.  so  I  repeat,  I  shall  come  home  an  ac 
complished  cook.  After  they  were  off,  I  went  out  to  the  stable,  and, 
in  stable  frock,  nourished  brush  and  comb  with  the  dexterity  of  an 
accomplished  groom.  This  season  of  the  year  causes  grooming  to  be 
a  most  laborious  task,  I  assure  you,  and  the  perspiration  rolled  off  my 
face  pretty  freely.  Then  I  took  my  saddle  and  bridle  down  to  the 
artificer's  to  be  repaired,  but  Rawson  was  sick,  and  therefore  I  was 
obliged  to  repair  it  myself.  I  know  I  sewed  from  me,  and  made  big 
holes  with  the  awl,  and  the  job  was  rather  bungling,  but  it  was 
strong  and  answered  the  purpose.  From  there  I  came  to  my  tent, 
put  on  the  potatoes,  drew  my  ration  of  steak  and  prepared  it  for  din 
ner.  Though  alone,  my  appetite  was  strong  enough  to  make  me  en 
joy  it  greatly.  I  then  cleared  the  table,  washed  the  dishes,  swept  and 
dusted  ;  took  my  new  jacket,  and  with  scissors,  thread  and  needle,  re 
modeled  it  to  quite  a  genteel  fit.  This  occupied  so  much  of  the  after 
noon,  that  I  only  had  time  to  take  a  short  galop  out  into  the  country 
and  pick  a  few  luscious  persimmons.  As  I  returned,  the  bugle  was 
blowing  the  water  call,  and  since  then  I  have  been  quite  busy,  taking 
care  of  "the  horses,  eating  supper  and  preparing  the  night's  wood. 
Our  table  furniture,  by  the  way,  is  quite  grand.  We  have  china 
plates  of  different  sizes,  white-handled  knives  and  forks,  cut-glass 
tumblers,  etcetera,  ad  infinitum. 

Crooker,  you  know,  has  just  returned  from  his  home  furlough.  On 
the  day  he  returned  we  asked  him  down  to  dine  with  us.  We  hap 
pened  to  have  chicken  pie  that  day,  with  our  usual  vegetables,  bread, 
&c.,  all  of  which  he  appeared  to  highly  relish  and  appreciate.  As  he 
finished,  he  pushed  back  his  mustache  with  the  napkin  and  said, 
"  Well,  boys,  I  do  wish  your  anxious  mothers  might  look  in  upon  us 
and  this  dinner.  The  best  answer  I  could  make  to  all  their  inquiries 
about  comfort  and  plenty  would  be  to  point  at  this  and  say,  '  Look 

there !'  " 

Thus  you  see  it  is  in  a  soldier's  life— the  brightest  of  bright  sidt 
one  day,  the  darkest  of  dark  sides  on  the  next— extreme  inactivity  or 
extreme  hard  labor— luxury  or  hardships.     We  know  not  what  the 
hour  may  bring  forth.     Rejoicing  in  comfort,  we  may  be  suddenly 
called  out  for  a  march,  a  scout  or  an  attack. 


EECOUDS  OF  THE 

We  have  given  the  whole  of  this  letter,  since  we  be 
lieve  that  all  our  comrades  will  recognize  it  as  a  correct 
description  of  the  life  at  Plymouth,  with  the  exception  of 
perhaps  a  weekly  call  to  go  on  a  scout  or  a  reconnoitre. 

Among  the  most  prominent  of  these  was  the  skirmish 
at  Williamston. 

The  following  description  of  the  march  to  and  skir 
mish  at  Williamston,  !N".  C.,  is  given  in  a  private  letter, 
dated  August  6th,  1863  : 

Sunday,  July  26th,  two  sections  of  our  Battery  were  ordered  to  re 
port  on  the  Washington  road,  at  11  o'clock.  We  did  so  and  found  the 
Eighty-fifth  N.  Y.  and  the  One  Hundred  and  First  and  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Pa.  Regiments  already  there.  The  Battery  took  the  centre 
and  in  a  short  time  the  line  was  formed,  and  we  started.  The  day  was 
pleasant,  the  roads  good,  horses  impatient  and  the  boys  fresh  and  jolly. 
We  marched  very  leisurely  along,  taking  the  Washington  road,  as 
far  as  Nichols  Mills.  Here  we  turned  off  and  crossed  Ward's  Creek. 
It  was  a  difficult  and  dangerous  place  to  cross  with  artillery,  but  all 
other  bridges  had  been  destroyed.  We  succeeded  in  crossing  without 
any  serious  damage.  This  work  was  the  hardest  of  the  day.  We  ad 
vanced  as  far  as  Janesville  (fourteen  miles)  and  went  into  camp  about 
7  o'clock.  During  the  day  the  sun  was  extremely  hot.  Several  of 
the  infantry  were  sun-struck,  and  a  host  of  them  were  obliged  to  fall 
in  the  rear,  so  overpowerd  by  the  heat,  that  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  keep  up.  Captain  Cady  told  us  to  report  in  the  lightest  pos 
sible  marching  order.  We  followed  his  instructions  a  little  too  closely. 
We  had  no  blankets,  no  lunch,  nothing  but  a  saddle  for  a  pillow  and 

an  overcoat  for  a  bed-blanket.     C had  purchased  a  chicken  on 

the  road ;  that  roasted  on  a  stick,  together  with  a  couple  of  hard 
crackers,  and  a  cup  of  coffee  made  us  a  very  good  supper  ;  we  were 
very  tired,  so  we  soon  made  a  bed  under  a  tree  and  sound,  dead  sleep 
quickly  took  us  away  from  "  marching  "  realities.  At  five  the  follow 
ing  morning  we  rose,  groomed  our  horses,  and  then  went  down  to  the 
river  and  had  a  fine  and  refreshing  bath  ;  soon  after  the  march  was 
resumed.  On  account  of  the  destruction  of  a  bridge,  we  were  obliged 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  205 

to  leave  the  main  road,  and  travel  some  seven  miles  out  of  the  way. 
This  was  a  swampy,  muddy  track,  and  with  the  hot  sun  pouring  down. 
This  route  made  men  and  horses  fret,  sweat  and  tire.  Finally,  we 
again  struck  the  main  road,  and  as  we  did  so,  we  discovered  some 
rebel  cavalry,  who  immediately  "  skedaddled."  White  flags  were 
hung  out  over  every  gate  as  we  passed  along.  After  marching 
about  ten  miles,  report  came  that  we  had  reached  the  rebel  picket 
posts.  Soon  skirmish  firing  began,  and  was  briskly  carried  on. 
Captain  Cady  and  Lieut.  Dolbeer  had  gone  ahead  of  the  main  forces 
to  reconnoitre,  and  some  stray  rebel  bullets  gave  Dolbeer  a  pretty 
(dose  call.  Immediately,  however,  the  rebels  retreated  and  crossed 
still  another  stream.  It  began  to  rain,  in  fact  to  pour  copiously.  The 
first  two  guns,  Clark's  and  Crooker's  (Williams  commanding  Crocker's 
on  account  of  his  absence)  and  the  Eighty-fifth  N.  Y.  were  sent  for 
ward.  They  went  on  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  coming  into  battery  in 
a  corn  field,  commenced  to  shell.  It  rained  so  hard  that  it  was  im 
possible  to  "  see  "  anything,  but  they  "  calculated.  "  The  rebels  re 
plied  with  muskets,  sharply.  The  bpys  held  up  a  little  and  the  infantry 
exchanged  volleys.  It  sounded  savagely  although  no  one  was  hurt. 
Just  then  one  of  the  Colonel's  aids  came  up  and  told  our  section  to 
come  forward  and  take  the  left  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Pa. 
As  the  officers  were  all  in  front,  Merrill  was  obliged  to  take  command. 
We  went  with  a  rush.  The  boys  were  greatly  elated  ;  we  were  soon 
at  the  place  appointed  for  us.  The  other  boys  had  discovered  a  stone 
mill  with  some  rebels  in  it,  and  pat  three  shot  through  it.  Musketry 
was  sharp  and  plenty  of  it.  The  cavalry  had  made  a  charge  and  two 
of  them  were  wounded.  The  bridge  over  the  stream  had  been  torn 
up  ;  the  rain  was  pouring  ;  the  stream  swelling.  The  infantry  had 
managed  to  fire  the  saw  mill  which  the  rebels  were  using  as  barracks. 
Just  at  this  juncture  the  Colonel  commanding  (Col.  Ley  men, 103d  Pa.) 
concluded  to  retire.  How  disappointed  every  body  was.  There  is 
nothing  that  causes  a  soldier  to  be  more  dejected  or  weary  than  to  be 
obliged  to  turn  back  after  making  an  attack.  The  excitement  was  over 
and  the  reaction  came  on  in  loud  grumbles  at  the  officer  commanding. 
We  had  felt  confident  of  a  victory,  and  were  a  good  deal  chagrined  at 
the  idea  of  a  retreat.  We  were  obliged,  however,  to  obey  orders,  and 
at  8  o'clock,  having  had  little  or  no  dinner  and  no  supper,  we  marched 
back  to  our  camp  of  the  night  previous,  which  we  reached  about 


RECORDS    OF   THE 

12  o'clock.  During  the  march  the  rain  poured  constantly  down, 
soaking  every  thing  through,  and  at  night  we  lay  down  under  our 
paulins  in  the  corner  of  fences,  and  on  waking  in  the  morning  frorii 
sound  slumber  found  ourselves  lying  in  puddles  of  water.  Resuming 
our  retreat,  after  we  had  partaken  of  a  little  coffee,  we  began  to  feel 
the  effects  of  a  hot  sun.  The  humid  atmosphere  seemed  a  cloud  of 
hot  steam,  suffocating  to  each  person  as  they  breathed  it.  In  the 
afternoon  it  again  began  to  rain.  A  thunder  storm,  clouds  low,  and 
filled  with  electricity  which  seemed  to  follow  our  guns  and  musketry, 
enveloped  us,  and  the  terrific  flashes  of  lightning  and  the  deafening 
roar  of  the  thunder,  put  to  shame  our  artillery  fires  and  reports. 

Our  march  was  through  woods.  The  lightning  seemed  to  play 
among  the  trees,  now  and  then  selecting  some  splendid  pine  and 
cleaving  it  to  the  roots,  causing  a  clap  and  crash  of  thundering  noise 
that  made  the  very  earth  tremble.  The  rain  was  piercing  ;  overcoats 
nor  rubber  coats  were  of  any  avail,  the  boys  gave  up  any  defence  from 
the  rain,  and  finally  jumping  from  their  seats  marched  through  the 
stream  that  filled  tke  roflfe  until  we  reached  Plymouth.  To  some  of 
the  boys  this  was  first  experience,  and  to  them  it  was  pretty  trying. 

June  13th,  Captain  Lee,  by  special  order,  No.  168, 
was  honorably  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate. 

E.  H.  Ward  well,  while  on  a  furlough  home,  had  received 
a  commission  to  fill  the  second  lieutenancy  which  had 
been  vacant  for  some  time. 

Soon  after  Captain  Lee's  return  to  the  north,  first  lieu 
tenant  Cady  received  a  commission  as  captain,  second 
lieutenant  F.  S.  Hastings  was  promoted  to  first  lieu 
tenant,  and  C.  II.  Dolbeer  received  a  second  lieutenant's 
commission.  By  order  of  Captain  Cady,  a  reorgan 
ization  of  the  Battery  was  made  and  the  following 
is  a  roll  of  the  names  with  the  respective  positions  of  the 
members  of  the  Battery  : 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  207 

FIRST   SECTION. 
L.  A.  CADY,  Captain. 

George  S.  Hastings,  First  Lieutenant. 

FIRST  DETACHMENT. 
W.  W.  Crocker,  Sergeant.  B.  F.  Corbin,  Gunner. 

Samuel  Stoddard,  Caisson  Corporal. 

T.  Rich,  C.  R.  Griffith, 

M.  Crosby,  G.  W.  Kellogg. 

P.  Marrin,  A.  Piper, 

Charles  W.  Fitch,  P.  J.  Stafford, 

H.  Chadbourne,  Geo.  Duryea, 

A.  Lee,  H.  S.  Whitney. 

SECOND  DETACHMENT. 
C.  A.  Clark,  Sergeant.  Samuel  Nichols,  Gunner. 

E.  H.  Hunter,  Caisson  Corporal. 

W.  Blood,  O.  S.  McCrary, 

C.  Wetmofe,  T.  McGuire, 

C.  T.  Phelan,  G.  Barker. 

G.  W.  Keeney,  J.  Filbin, 

E.  Richards,  «  J.  Russell, 

W.  Carnahan,  J.  T.  Ferrin, 

E.  Welch,  James  Co  wen. 

SECOND  SECTION. 
C.  H.  Dolbeer,  Second  Lieutenant. 

THIRD  DETACHMENT. 
R.  C.  Ainsworth,  Sergeant.  L.  Newcomb,  Gunner. 

F.  M.  Alburty,  Caisson  Corporal. 

W.  Ainsworth,  J.  E.  Galusha, 

M.  C.  Smith,  J.  Flynn, 

W.  P.  Nichols,  A.  McDonald. 

G.  Miller,  J.  G.  Miner, 

J.  Sunfield,  H.  Bartlett, 

T.  Fitzgerald,  J.  H.  Weller, 

G.  A.  Holinan. 

FOURTH  DETACHMENT. 

J.  W.  Merrill,  Sergeant.  G.  G.  Wright,  Gunner. 

E.  T.  M.  Hurlburt,  Caisson  Corporal. 

L.  H.  Shank,  E.  Eastwood, 

W.  F.  Hosford,  R.  J.  Newton, 

A.  Lent,  G.  Crounce, 

B.  F.  Bachelder. 

A.  L.  Culver,  ,  P.  Fitzpatrick, 

C.  A.  Marean,  Le  G.  D.  Rood, 

J.  Baker,  O.  G.  Parmlee, 

C.  H.  Homan,  A,  W.  Comstock. 


208  RECORDS    OF    THE 


THIRD  SECTION. 
Frederick  E.  Hastings,  First  Lieutenant. 

FIFTH  DETACHMENT. 
O.  Williams,  Sergeant.  A.  T.  Ferguson,  Gunner. 

G.  B.  Johnson,  Caisson  Corporal. 

A.  Griffith,  *  W.  M.  Hoyt, 

P.  Shirley,  J.  Button, 

L.  H.  Laphain,  H.  V.  Clnte. 

F.  Leonard,  Z.  Allen, 

G.  W.  Stevens,  M.  R.  Hosier, 
Sylvanus  King,  J.  Bartley, 

W.  Gould. 

SIXTH  DETACHMENT. 
William  S.  Camp,  Sergeant.  Geo.  Birdsall,  Gunner. 

H.  Tilton,  Caisson  Corporal. 

J.  Woolsey,  H.  Loomis, 

G.  S.  Atwood,  P.  Pratt, 

J.  W.  Perkins. 

J.  McCrink,  C.  Hathaway, 

R.  H.  Barnes,  S.  Ro<t, 

J.  A.  Brooks,  W.  Armstrong, 

E.  Wood. 

Edward  H.  Wardwell,  Second  Lieutenant,  Chief  of  Caissons. 
H.  P.  Lloyd,  Orderly  Sergeant. 
H.  C.  Martin,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 
A.  Richards,     ) 
P.  D.Rawson,  V  Artificers. 
P.  Calteaux,     ) 


W.  Alburty,  Guidon. 
J.  Chapman,  Wagoner. 
B.  H.  Hollister,  I 
J.  Calkins,          j- 


Not  long  after  the  reorganization,  and  while  we  were 
busily  engaged  in  making  improvements  in  the  appear 
ance  and  the  comfort  of  the  camp,  preparing  our  stables  for 
the  winter,  &c.,  we  were  surprised  by  the  arrival  of  Gen 
eral  Butler — then  commanding  the  department  to  which 
we  belonged — on  an  inspection  tour.  We  find  a  descrip 
tion  in  a  private  letter,  from  which  we  extract  the  follow 
ing: 


^!^*^^M\  tl  li  I 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  209 

Yesterday  Plymouth  was  alive,  noisy,  gay.  In  the  early  morn 
ing  the  steamer  "  Colyer  "  sailed  up  the  Roanoke,  with  the  colors 
of  the  General  commanding.  Immediately  orders  were  issued — 
"  General  Butler  has  arrived,  prepare  for  inspection  " — "  the  Battery 
to  fire  a  salute."  The  barn  was  not  completed  ;  nearly  everything 
was  out  of  order.  There  was  much  work  done  in  short  time. 
Blanks  wore  made,  guns  scoured,  grounds  policed,  harness  cleaned, 
arms  and  equipments  brushed  and  polished,  boots  blacked,  clothes 
cleaned,  and  everything  placed  in  "  inspection  "  order.  At  eight 
o'clock  we  were  hitched  up  and  marched  down  to  the  parade 
ground  in  front  of  the  Generals,  and  then  we  fired  a  salute  of 
thirteen  guns.  We  then  returned  to  park.  In  about  an  hour 
General  Butler  arrived  at  our  camp.  He  rode  in  a  buggy  with 
General  Peck,  driving  his  own  horse.  Reining  up  in  front  of  the 
Battery,  he  alighted,  and  sportively  assuming  the  part  of  coachman 
to  General  Peck,  with  an  extremely  low  bow,  assisted  him  in  de 
scending.  Then  approaching  the  Captain,  with  hat  uplifted  in  ac 
knowledgment  of  the  "present"  of  the  company,  he  shook  hands 
with  him,  passed  the  compliments  of  the  day,  and  requested  him 
to  dismount  and  walk  through  the  Battery  with  him.  The  "  in 
spection  "  was  close ;  they  observing  all  the  minor  as  well  as  the 
more  important  things.  Some  of  the  boys  in  their  hurry  had  for 
gotten  to  black  their  boots  ;  that  was  noticed.  Another  man,  whose 
pants  were  too  long,  had  turned  them  up  a  little  ;  the  General  al 
lowed  "  he  had  got  into  the  wrong  man's  pants."  "  The  guns  were 
in  good  order,"  he  remarked  once  or  twice.  Both  Generals  said, 
"  The  men  are  fine  looking,  and  their  clothes  in  excellent  condition." 
"Yes,"  says  Butler,  "well  shod,  well  shod,  too."  General  Wessells 
followed  him,  he  in  a  buggy  also,  with  Admiral  Lee.  They  alighted, 
and  oame  and  examined  our  guns.  Lee  said  "  they  were  the  best  kind 
of  field  guns  in  use."  They  stayed  with  us  from  twenty  minutes  to  half 
an  hour  ;  it  was  the  most  thorough  and  rigid  inspection  we  have  had. 


Colder  days  began  to  come  upon  us,  prophesying  an 
approaching  winter.     We  prepared  for  it,  and  were  per 
fectly  quiet  during  this  season.     One   or   two   of    the 
14 


210  RECORDS    OF    THE         * 

churches  were  put  in  order,  and  the  chaplains  of  the 
different  regiments  alternately  held  service  in  them. 
There  was  quite  an  interest  manifested  among  the  sol 
diers  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  there  was  usually  a 
large  attendance  at  the  services.  It  was  somewhat  sin 
gular  that  the  preliminary  attack  on  Plymouth  was  made 
while  our  men  were  returning  from  the  church  to  their 
camps.  A  large  "contraband"  school  was  instituted, 
and  held  its  sessions  in  one  of  the  churches.  As  many  as 
six  hundred  colored  people,  young  and  old,  took  advan 
tage  of  this  opportunity  to  study  and  learn.  The  school 
was  superintended  by  Mrs.  Freeman — a  woman  eminent 
ly  fitted  for  the  position — assisted  by  her  daughter,  and 
Mrs.  Coombs,  from  Ohio.  These  ladies,  when  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy  was  known,  were  sent  by  steamer 
to  Roanoke  Island,  where  they  finally  established  a  very 
large  and  very  successful  colored  school  under  the 
auspices  of  the  "  Christian  Commission." 

The  sufferings  which  these  ladies  lessened  among  both 
the  blacks  and  the  whites,  and  the  good  they  did,  make 
for  them  a  name  that  shall  live  for  ever  in  the  hearts  of 
the  poor  creatures  to  whom  they  gave  knowledge,  com 
fort  and  consolation.  In  addition  to  our  churches  and 
schools,  the  gayer  portion  of  the  garrison  interested 
themselves  in  concerts,  balls  and  parties.  "  Ferguson's 
Band "  was  in  as  great  demand  as  it  is  in  the  present 
winter  seasons. 

The  few  whites  who  were  left,  and  able  to  entertain, 
did  so.  The  officers  of  the  different  departments  enter 
tained  and  the  soldiers  did  the  same.  Christmas  was 
kept  as  a  holiday,  and  on  New  Years,  the  day  was  made 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  211 

jolly  by  a  show  of  climbing  greased  poles  for  a  purse, 
running  sack  races,  chasing  a  greased  pig,  running  races 
with  wheelbarrows  while  blindfolded ;  the  whole  conclud 
ing  with  a  grand  scrub  race  of  all  sorts  and  sizes  of  horses. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  older  portion  of  the 
Battery,  who  had  served  their  full  term  of  service  of 
three  years,  were  induced  to  re-enlist. 

A  short  time  after  their  re-enlistment,  they  received 
veteran  furloughs,  and  in  a  body  left  Plymouth  for  home. 

On  their  return,  Captain  Cady  again  made  a  change  in 
the  roster  of  the  Battery;  many  vacancies  having  oc 
curred  by  resignations,  promotions,  deaths  and  sickness. 
We  have  no  copy  of  this  last  roster.  We  remember, 
however,  that  Lieutenants  Fred.  E.  Hastings  and  Dolbeer 
left  the  Battery.  (We  were  told,  at  the  time,  that  the 
reason  of  their  departure  was,  that  the  number  of  the 
men  in  the  Battery  was  too  small  to  entitle  it  to  so  many 
commissioned  officers.)  William  S.  Camp  was  appointed 
quartermaster  sergeant,  and  W.  P.  Crooker  was  appoint 
ed  orderly  sergeant.  The  duty  sergeants  were  reduced 
in  number,  as  were  all  the  non-commissioned  officers. 


212  RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   BATTLE    OF    PLYMOUTH. 

Lieutenant  George  S.  Hastings  has  kindly  written  for 
us  the  following  sketch  of  the  battle  of  Plymouth  : 

On  Sunday,  the  17th  day  of  April,  1864,  at  the  hour 
of  dress  parade,  the  pickets  of  the  Plymouth  garrison 
were  driven  in  by  the  rebel  cavalry  forming  the  advance 
of  the  division  which  was  rapidly  advancing  upon  the 
post.  The  long  roll  was  hastily  sounded,  and  our  troops 
hurriedly  prepared  for  the  attack.  The  garrison  then 
consisted  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment  New  York  In 
fantry,  the  One  Hundred  and  First  and  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Regiments  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  of  Connecticut  troops,  one  company 
of  the  Twelfth  New  York  Cavalry,  two  companies  of 
the  Second  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery,  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery,  numbering  in  all  not 
more  than  1,900  effective  men.  The  rebel  cavalry  dis 
mounted  and  deployed  under  cover  of  the  woods,  1,200 
yards  from  the  outer  face  of  our  works.  Our  cavalry 
was  quickly  sent  out  to '  draw  the  enemy's  tire  and  to 
discover  their  strength,  and,  when  within  range  of  the 
woods,  received  a  sharp  volley  from  the  concealed  rebels, 
which  killed  orfe  man  and  severely  wounded  Lieutenant 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  213 

Russell  of  the  advance  guard.  It  became  evident,  from 
the  nature  of  the  attack,  that  it  was  not  simply  a  dashing 
raid,  and  our  troops  were  accordingly  prepared  for  the 
hard  fighting  soon  to  follow.  Shortly  after  the  demon 
stration  upon  our  front,  the  shells  of  a  rebel  battery  began 
to  fall  within  our  works.  These  first  came  from  guns 
opening  upon  Fort  Gray,  a  small  but  strong  earthwork 
on  the  Roanoke  River,  about  a  mile  from  Plymouth, 
commanding  the  water  approaches  above  us.  This 
desultory  fire,  while  doing  little  or  no  damage,  was  ac 
cepted  by  us  as  additional  evidence  of  the  seriousness  of 
the  attack.  All  night  long  the  heavy  music  of  artillery 
and  the  bustle  of  hostile  preparation  continued.  About 
midnight  the  steamboat  "  Massasoit "  left  us,  carrying  to 
a  safer  point  the  "  impedimenta  "  of  the  garrison,  con 
sisting  of  women,  children  and  the  disabled.  The  writer 
still  retains  in  vivid  remembrance  the  hasty  farewells 
then  and  there  spoken  (some  of  which  were  final),  the 
pale  faces  of  affrighted  women  and  children,  the  groans 
of  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  the  bustle  and  confusion 
which,  if  reproduced,  would  form  so  striking  and  touch 
ing  a  picture  of  war.  He  well  recollects  how  proudly 
the  gallant  Flusser  (the  lieutenant  commander  of  the  lit 
tle  fleet  of  gunboats  guarding  the  waters  of  the  Roanoke) 
paced  the  decks  of  the  "  Massasoit,"  with  brave  words 
like  these,  "  Ladies,  I  have  waited  two  long  years  for  the 
rebel  ram.  The  navy  will  do  its  duty.  We  shall  sink, 
destroy  or  capture  it,  or  find  our  graves  in  the  Roanoke." 
On  the  following  day  the  enemy  maintained  a  steady 
though  ineffective  fire  upon  our  redoubts  until  evening, 
when  they  assumed  a  vigorous  offensive.  During  the 


ItKCOKDS    OF    THE 

afternoon  our  skirmish  lines  had  been  busily  employed 
in  the  dangerous  exercise  of  giving  and  taking  powder 
and  ball.  About  five  o'clock,  however,  the  enemy  ad 
vanced  in  force  along  our  entire  front.  Our  men  fell 
back  in  excellent  order,  keeping  up  a  sharp  fire  against 
the  solid  line  of  rebels.  Behind  this  dense  curtain  of 
infantry,  their  artillery,  consisting  of  about  forty  pieces, 
was  advanced  to  a  line  about  800  yards  from  our  outer 
works.  Then  rapidly  taking  position,  their  guns  were 
served  with  terrific  rapidity  and  precision.  Our  artillery 
responded  deliberately  and  with  fearful  certainty, 
silencing  the  guns  of  the  enemy  and  sending  destruction 
into  their  ranks.  So  exact  was  our  range,  that  in  some 
instances  a  single  shot  disabled  the  rebel  piece  which  had 
invited  the  salute.  For  nearly  an  hour  this  duel  of  artil 
lery  continued,  the  heavy  ordnance  of  the  gunboats 
adding  their  thunder  tones  to  the  chorus  of  death.  As 
the  fierceness  of  the  attack  subsided,  the  shrieks  of  the 
wounded  and  dying  could  distinctly  be  heard  above  the 
din  of  battle.  The  rebel  infantry,  which  had  been  lying 
down  during  the  heavy  fire,  must  have  suffered  severely 
from  our  shells,  and  we  believed  that  half  at  least  of  their 
artillerymen  were  put  out  of  the  fight.  A  rebel  officer 
was  heard  to  exclaim,  "  It  is  of  no  use  ;  we  cannot  endure 
this  fire ;"  and  so  their  troops  were  withdrawn.  Had 
the  original  design  of  carrying  our  lines  been  further 
pursued,  we  were  confident  that  canister  and  the  bayonet 
in  closer  quarters  would  have  proved  too  much  for  the 
mettle  of  the  Southern  veterans.  Their  attack  was  well 
planned,  and  would  doubtless  have  succeeded,  but  for 
the  strength  of  Sour  earthworks,  which  protected  us  from 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  215 

a  tire  that  would  otherwise  have  been  most  damaging. 
As  it  was,  our  casualties  were  comparatively  light, 
though  the  air  wras  full  of  the  missiles  of  death.  During 
this  formidable  demonstration  against  our  lines,  a  strong 
storming  party,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Mercer, 
of  Virginia,  attempted  to  capture  a  small  redoubt,  which 
by  some  freak  of  engineering  had  been  located  nearly 
half  a  mile  from  the  main  defences.  This  redoubt  was 
occupied  by  a  single  company  of  the  Eighty-fifth  New 
York  Volunteers,  commanded  by  Captain  Chapin. 
Again  and  again  the  rebels  charged  upon  this  little  gar 
rison,  coming  within  range  of  their  hand  grenades. 
Their  reception  was  so  warm,  that  they  too  were  com 
pelled  to  retire,  leaving  some  thirty  or  forty  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  the  brave  defenders  of  the  little  fort.  The 
brigade  commander,  Colonel  Mercer,  was  killed  in  the 
assault. 

Thus  far,  the  Plymouth  troops  were  confident  of  re 
pelling  the  enemy.  Later  in  the  night,  the  rebel  ram 
"  Albemarle".  succeeded  in  passing  our  batteries  and  sink 
ing  two  of  the  gunboats,  inflicting  a  very  serious  loss 
upon  our  naval  forces.  The  gallant  Flusser,  while  hold 
ing  the  lanyard  of  one  of  his  guns,  was  struck  by  a 
piece  of  a  shell  and  instantly  killed.  This  reverse,  and 
the  consequent  withdrawal  of  our  naval  supports,  and 
the  undisturbed  occupancy  of  the  river  by  the  rebels, 
gave  a  serious  phase  to  the  siege,  and  our  capture  then 
seemed  to  be  a  question  of  time  and  endurance  only. 
Our  left  was  now  no  longer  protected  by  the  powerful 
batteries  of  our  gunboats,  but  exposed  to  a  galling  fire 
from  the  "  Albemarle"  and  her  wooden  convoy.  Our 


216  RECORDS    OF   THE 

« 

troops  then  commenced  throwing  up  bomb  proofs,  as  a 
protection  from  the  fire  in  the  rear.  The  rebels  moved 
their  artillery  and  infantry  to  our  left,  which  was  plainly 
our  weakest  point.  Continuing  their  fire  upon  our  front 
and  right,  the  bulk  of  their  forces  was  quietly  moved  into 
the  fresh  position.  About  midnight  of  Tuesday,  April 
19th,  in  the  teeth  of  a  sharp  and  destructive  fire,  they 
laid  their  pontoons  across  a  creek  intersecting  the  open 
ground  lying  just  east  of  our  left  line.  Crossing  with 
two  brigades  of  infantry  and  Several  pieces  of  artillery, 
they  formed  a  new  and  strong  line  of  battle,  the  right  of 
which  rested  upon  the  Roanoke  and  the  left  swerving 
around  to  our  front.  At  the  same  time,  another  force 
advanced  against  our  right  line.  About  three  o'clock, 
on  the  morning  of  April  20th,  the  entire  rebel  force 
charged  our  extended  and  feeble  lines,  moving  forward 
with  loud  and  defiant  yells.  Largely  outnumbering  our 
exhausted  garrison,  they  were  able  to  make  a  vigorous 
onset  upon  every  portion  of  the  defences,  arid  at  the  same 
time  to  send  an  independent  column  along  the  banks  of 
the  river  into  the  heart  of  the  town.  This  final  success 
was  achieved  with  great  losses  upon  both  sides.  The 
pieces  of  the  Twenty-fourth  JSTew  York  Battery  were 
served  double  shotted  with  canister,  hurling  disorder  and 
death  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy ;  and  not  until  the 
rebels  seized  the  muzzles  of  the  guns,  did  the  cannoneers 
fail  in  their  work.  For  nearly  two  hours  did  the  fight 
go  on  in  the  streets  of  Plymouth,  our  forces  surrendering 
only  under  stern -military  necessity  and  in  small  detach 
ments.  Fort  Williams  turned  its  guns  upon  the  rebels, 
and  did  murderous  execution  for  three  or  four  hours. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  217 

Finally,  when  every  portion  of  that  strong  earthwork 
was  covered  by  rebel  sharpshooters,  and  the  rebel  artil 
lery  had  been  so  disposed  as  to  send  a  concentric  shower 
of  shell  within  its  parapets,  General  Wessells  accepted 
the  situation,  and  saved  the  garrison  from  certain  sacri 
fice  by  a  reluctant  surrender.  The  rebels  raised  the 
black  flag  against  the  few  negroes  found  in  uni 
form,  and  mercilessly  shot  them  down.  Their  losses 
were  never  accurately  known,  but  were  stated  in  the 
Ealeigh  papers  as  exceeding  2,200  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  Measured  by  results,  the  victory,  so  dearly 
won,  was  barren,  as  Plymouth  was  a  point  of  little  stra 
tegic  value.  The  subsequent  movements  of  the  rebel 
forces  showed  the  ulterior  design  of  driving  the  Union 
troops  from  the  State.  This  cherished  plan  would  proba 
bly  have  succeeded,  had  not  the  movements  of  the  army 
of  the  James  caused  the  hasty  recall  of  the  division  in 
North  Carolina.  Viewed  in  any  light,  the  battle  of 
Plymouth  afforded  a  splendid  illustration  of  the  valor 
and  sterling  qualities  of  the  American  soldier.  The 
rebels  showed  a  stout  tenacity  of  purpose  and  a  courage 
worthy  of  a  better  cause.  But  in  the  1,900  defenders  of 
the  post,  they  found  men  equally  dutiful  and  brave. 
Our  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  over  180 — a  fact 
sufficiently  attesting  the  heroic  conduct  of  our  men, 
when  it  is  recollected  that,  for  the  most  part,  they  fought 
under  cover  of  strong  breastworks. 

We  give  in  addition  to  Lieutenant  Hastings  sketch, 
the  following  selections  from  the  account  written  at  the 
time  by  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald, 


218 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


and  General  Peck's  official  report  as  found  in  the 
"  Rebellion  Kecord:" 

NEW  BERNE,  April  21, 1864. 

General  Wessells,  commanding1  the  town  of  Plymouth,  and  his 
whole  command  of  upwards  of  two  thousand,  officers  and  men,  sur~ 
rendered  yesterday  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.  The  command  consisted  of 
the  following : 

Eighty-fifth  New  York  Infantry  Regiment. 

One  Hundred  and  First  Pennsylvania  Infantry  Regiment. 

One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsylvania  Infantry  Regiment. 

Sixteenth  Connecticut  Infantry  Regiment. 

Two  companies  of  the  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery. 

Two  companies  of  the  Second  North  Carolina  Volunteers. 

Two  companies  of  the  Twelfth  New  York  Cavalry. 

Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery,  100  men,  6  guns. 

The  enemy  gained  likewise  upwards  of  thirty  pieces  of  artillery  of 
all  calibres,  including  one  two  hundred  and  one  one  hundred  pounder 
Parrotts,  about  three  hundred  horses  and  a  large  amount  of  commis 
sary  stores. 

FORTRESS  MONROE,  April  24,  1864. 

PLYMOUTH    SURRENDERED 

is  the  startling  and  painful  announcement  I  am  compelled  to  make 
to  you  in  my  despatch  to-day,  which  event  took  everybody  by  surprise, 
as  it  was  thought  that  General  Wessells  could  hold  out  for  a  few 
days  at  least,  until  reinforcements,  which  were  already  on  the  way, 
could  reach  him.  But  the  rebel  ram  which  had  destroyed  the  South- 
field  kept  our  transports  from  ascending  the  Roanoke  River,  and 
consequently  the  beleaguered  garrison  at  Plymouth  was  compelled  to 
fight  as  long  as  human  endurance  could  stand  it,  and  either  be  anni 
hilated  or  surrender  at  discretion.  This  news  reached  me  this  morn 
ing  by  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  Currituck  from  Roanoke  Island,  and 
through  a  most  reliable  source. 

THE   FIRST   ATTACK 

was  made  on  the  fortifications  of  Plymouth  on  the  17th  inst.,  but 
repulsed,  as  also  another  made  on  Fort  Gray.  The  momentary  re 
pulse  kept  the  enemy  at  bay,  and  lasted  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY. 

On  Tuesday  morning  the  rebel  ram  made  her  appearance,  to  co-operate 
with  the  land  forces,  and  succeeded  not  only  in  sinking  the  Southfield, 
but  in  killing  Captain  Flusser.  They  drove  our  naval  vessels  from 
the  river,  and  consequently  this  support  failed  General  Wessells  in 
the  most  trying  hour  of  his  campaign. 

THE    SECOND   ATTACK. 

was  made  by  the  enemy  on  all  of  our  forts  surrounding  the  town 
almost  simultaneously,  and  in  every  assault  he  was  driven  back  with 
terrific  slaughter.  But  the  rebels  seemed  determined,  and  renewed 
attacks  were  made  and  checked,  each  one  still  attended  with  the  most 
dreadful  carnage.  From  this  time  until  half-past  ten  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  morning  the  fighting  was  almost  uninterrupted.  On 
Tuesday  orders  were  issued  for 

THE   EVACUATION   OF    FORT   WESSELLS, 

better  known  as  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment  redoubt,  situated  a  short 
distance  from  Mill  Creek.  Captain  Chapin,  the  commandant  of  the 
fort  had  been  killed,  and  although  the  stock  of  ammunition  on  hand 
was  growing  "  small  by  degrees  and  beautifully  less,"  still  the  heroic 
little  band  kept  up  an  incessant  firing  on  the  enemy,  every  shot  tell 
ing  with  fearful  effect.  Upon  the  reception  of  the  order  the  survi 
vors  of  the  garrison  awaited  the  coming  of  night,  and  under  its  pro 
tecting  shade  silently  withdrew  to  the  town,  having  first,  however, 
disabled  the  guns  of  the  fort. ' 

THE  UNION  FORCES  CONCENTRATED, 

on  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Wessells,  in  Forts  Williams,  Comfort,  and 
a  redoubt  facing  the  Roanoke  River,  below  Mill  Creek,  and  kept  up 
the  fight  incessantly.  The  forces  of  General  Wessells  thus  being 
massed  and  able  to  handle  the  artillery  more  -effectively,  kept  up  a 
regular,  steady  and  galling  fire  on  the  rebels.  The  enemy  used  thirty- 
pounder  Parrott  guns  and  other  artillery  of  about  similar  calibre. 

FORT   WILLIAMS   STORMED. 

At  nine  o'clock  on  the  20th  inst.  a  most  impetuous  assault  was 
made  by  the  rebels  on  Fort  Williams.  Our  brave  boys  nobly  stood 
by  their  guns,  and  repulsed  every  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  enter  the 
fortification.  In  splendid  order  did  the  rebel  column  advance  to  the 
assault.  General  Wessells  allowed  him  time  to  come  within  easy 
range  of  his  guns,  and  then  gave  the  order  to  fire.  Every  discharge 


220  RECORDS  OF  THE 

mowed  down  the  rebel  troops  by  platoons.  Still  the  gaps  were  in 
stantly  filled  up  and  the  attack  renewed.  In  this  manner  the  enemy 
received  several  severe  shocks,  and  after  a  last  and  still  more  impetu 
ous  charge,  which  likewise  resulted  disastrously  to  him,  he  withdrew, 
evidently  to  repair  damage  and  make  ready  for  another  attack. 

GENERAL  WESSELLS  CAPITULATED 

at  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  inst.  (Wednesday),  an 
hour  and  a  half  after  the  repulse  at  Fort  Williams.  At  the  hour 
above  mentioned  the  Union  flag  was  hauled  down  on  Forts  Williams 
and  Comfort,  as  well  as  on  the  Mill  Creek  redoubt.  The  rebels  had 
been  heavily  reinforced  during  Tuesday  night,  and  the  overwhelming 
forces  hurled  against  our  weak  and  already  shattered  column  was  too 
much  rto  endure,  and  being  out  of  ammunition  and  cut  off  from  a 
further  supply,  General  Wessells  could  do  no  less  than  surrender,  or 
have  all  his  command  annihilated.  The  garrison  of  Fort  Gray  no 
doubt  fought  nobly  to  the  last ;  but,  being  cut  off  from  the  main  com 
mand,  without  hope  of  deliverance,  had  to  succumb  also.  We  have 
no  advices  from  this  post,  but  common  sense  teaches  us  that  the  fort 
could  not  hold  out  very  long. 

THE   REBEL   COLUMN 

consisted  of  no  less  than  five  brigades  of  troops,  each  brigade  num 
bering  about  three  thousand  men.  These  were  under  the  chief  com 
mand  of  Major  General  Hoke,  assisted  by  Generals  Ransom  and  Bar 
ton.  The  majority  of  these  troops  were  from  the  far  South,  as  the 
'  North  Carolinians  are  not  trusted  very  far  while  fighting  on  their  own 
soil. 

OUR  LOSSES 

are  estimated  at  about  one  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded.  Captain 
Chapin  was  killed  at  Fort  Wressells,  and  Captain  Horace  J.  Hodges, 
Depot  Quartermaster,  while  in  the  act  of  communicating  with  the 
gunboat  Miami,  in  a  canoe  which  he  carried  in  a  wagon  from 
Plymouth  to  Conesby  Creek,  in  order  to  elude  the  rebel  iron  clad,  was 
upset  and  drowned. 

THE   REBEL   LOSSES 

are,  beyond  the  slightest  doubt,  immensely  heavy,  when  it  is  consid 
ered  that  every  fort  around  Plymouth  was  stormed  from  three  to  seven 
times,  and  each  assault  repulsed  with  great  slaughter,  besides  pourt 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  221 

ing  broadside  after  broadside  into  the  rebel  ranks  from  the  Miami  and 
Southfield,  the  casualties  among  the  rebel  troops  must  have  been 
enormous.  A  rebel  surgeon  was  heard  to  say  that  "  the  damned 
Yankees  had  killed  and  wounded  one-third  of  their  whole  force,  and 
he  hoped  that  no  mercy  would  be  shown  the  cursed  Yankees."  The 
gunboat  Whitehead  went  on  a  reconnoissance  on  Wednesday,  a  short 
distance  above  Plymouth,  and  the  officers  and  crew  observed  about 
three  hundred  rebel  troops  engaged  in  burying  the  dead.  From  a 
steeple  on  the  town  church,  overlooking  a  large  tract  of  land,  it  was 
found  that  the  field  of  Asa  Johnson  (about  sixty  acres)  was  complete 
ly  filled  with  dead  and  dying  rebels.  The  entire  rebel  force  could 
not  have  been  short  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  men,  of  whom 
one-third  are  unfit  for  future  service. 


GENERAL    PECK'S    OFFICIAL     ANNOUNCEMENT    OF    THE 
SURRENDER. 

GENERAL  ORDERS — No.  66. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  AND) 
DISTRICT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,:* 
NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  April  21,  1864. ) 

With  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow,  the  Commanding  General  an 
nounces  the  fall  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  and  the  capture  of  its  gallant 
commander,  Brigadier  General  H.  W.  Wessells,  and  his  command. 
This  result,  however,  was  not  obtained  until  after  the  most  gallant 
and  determined  resistance  had  been  made.  Five  times  the  enemy 
stormed  the  lines  of  the  General,  and  as  many  times  were  they  hand 
somely  repulsed  with  great  slaughter,  and  but  for  the  powerful  assist 
ance  of  the  rebel  iron  clad  ram,  and  the  floating  sharpshooter  battery, 
the  Cotton  Plant,  Plymouth  woiild  still  have  been  in  our  hands. 

For  their  noble  defence  thj  gallant  General  Wessells  and  his  brave 
band  have  and  deserve  the  warmest  thanks  of  the  whole  country, 
while  all  will  sympathize  with  them  in  their  misfortune. 

To  the  officers  and  men  of  the  navy,  the  Commanding  General  ten 
ders  his  thanks  for  their  hearty  co-operation  with  the  army,  and  the 
bravery,  determination  and  courage  that  marked  their  part  of  the 
unequal  contest.  With  sorrow  he  records  the  death  of  the  noble 
sailor  and  gallant  patriot,  Lieutenant  Commander  C.  W.  Flusser, 


222 


RECORDS    OF    THE 


United  States  Navy,  who,  in  the  heat  of  battle,  fell  dead  on  the  deck 
of  his  ship,  with  the  lanyard  of  his  gun  in  his  hand. 

The  Commanding  General  believes  that  these  misfortunes  will  tend 
not  to  discourage,  but  to  nerve  the  Army  of  North  Carolina  to  equal 
deeds  of  bravery  and  gallantry  hereafter. 

Until  further  orders  the  headquarters  of  the  sub-district  of  the 
Albemarle  will  be  at  Roanoke  island.  The  command  devolves  upon 
Colonel  D.  W.  Wardrop,  of  the  Ninety-ninth  New  York  Infantry. 

By  command  of  Major  General  JOHN  G.  PECK. 

J.  A.  JUDSON,  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

THE  PRESS  DESPATCHES. 

NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  April  22,  1864. 

The  battle,  which  had  been  going  on  night  and  day  at  Plymouth, 
from  Sunday,  the  17th,  to  the  20th  inst.,  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
the  city  by  the  enemy  on  Wednesday  noon,  including  General  Wes- 
sells  and  his  forces — one  thousand  five  hundred  men.  The  enemy  ob 
tained  possession  of  the  town  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

General  Wessells  and  his  troops  retired  into  Fort  Williams,  and  held 
out  until  noon,  repulsing  the  enemy  in  seven  desperate  assaults. 
The  enemy's  loss  is  said  to  be  one  thousand  seven  hundred,  while  our 
loss  was  slight. 

General  Wessells,  who  gained  such  distinction  in  the  seven  day's 
fight  before  Richmond,  has  made  in  this  siege  a  most  heroic  resistance 
with  his  little  band  of  veterans.  Several  weeks  since  he  called  for 
five  thousand  men,  stating  in  the  most  solemn  manner  that  it  would 
be  impossible  to  hold  the  city  with  a  less  number.  General  Peck,  who 
has  given  General  Wessells  all  the  assistance  in  his  power,  in  the 
same  solemn  manner,  time  and  again,  called  for  reinforcements. 

CAPTURE  OF  PLYMOUTH,  N.  C. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  AND  DISTRICT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  ) 
NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  April  25,  1864.  f 

General :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  upon  the 
loss  of  Plymouth,  which  is  as  full  as  it  can  be  until  General  Wessells 
is  able  to  make  his  reports,  when  I  will  make  a  supplementary  one  : 

On  the  twentieth,  at  seven  o'clock  P.  M.,  I  received  your  communi- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY. 


22?. 


cation  of  the  seventeenth,  in  reply  to  the  letter  of  General  Wessells 
of  the  thirteenth,  asking  for  reinforcements.  As  this  letter  must  have 
reached  your  headquarters  in  the  evening  of  the  fourteenth,  or  early 
on  the  fifteenth,  a  reply  could  have  reached  me  on  the  sixteenth,  in 
time  to  have  communicated  with  General  Wessells  during  the  evening 
or  night  of  the  seventeenth. 

Unfortunately,  the  reply  was  not  written  until  the  seventeenth,  and 
did  not  arrive  on  the  twentieth  until  some  hours  after  the  fall  of 
Plymouth. 

You  replied,  viz.  :  "  You  will  have  to  defend  the  district  with  your 
present  force,  and  you  will  make  such  disposition  of  them  as  will,  in 
your  judgment,  best  subserve  this  end." 

General  Wessells  sent  his  communication  direct  to  your  headquar 
ters,  to  save  time,  expecting  that  any  aid  which  might  be  sent  would 
come  from  Virginia,  and  not  North  Carolina. 

He  sent  a  duplicate  tome,  with  a  letter  expressing  the  above  views, 
knowing  the  reduced  state  of  the  force  at  my  disposal.  He  writes, 
viz.  :  "  I  have  no  idea  of  getting  any  troops,  but  have  always  been 
anxious  to  see  more  troops  in  North  Carolina." 

Notwithstanding  this  expression  of  his  sentiments,  I  had  a  confer 
ence  with  General  Palmer  and  Commander  Davenport,  United  States 
Navy,  and  the  heavy  gunboat  "  Tacony,"  which  is  equal  to  two  or 
three  regiments,  was  immediately  despatched  to  Plymouth. 

On  the  eighteenth  instant  the  "  Tacony"  arrived  back  from 
Plymouth,  with  despatches  from  General  Wessells  and  Commander 


General  Wessells  wrote  that  he  did  not  apprehend  any  attack,  and 
did  not  think  there  was  a  large  force  in  his  front. 

He  expressed  the  opinion  that  there  was  doubt  as  to  the  "  iron-clad" 
making  its  appearance,  and  believed  that  she  was  at  Hamilton,  under 
going  repairs  or  modification. 

He  wrote  on  the  sixteenth,  viz.  :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that 
the  gunboat  '  Tacony'  arrived  here  to-day,  but,  as  her  presence  at  this 
time  does  not  seem  to  be  necessary,  I  have  so  informed  her  com 
mander,  and  he  proposes  to  return  to  New  Berne  to-morrow.  I  cannot 
learn  that  there  is  any  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  river 
now,  though  such  is  the  report  from  various  sources.  I  very  much 
doubt  if  there  is  any  design  of  bringing  the  thing  (iron-clad)  down  ; 


224:  RECORDS    OF    THE 

still  there  may  be,  as  they  say,  when  the  'Neuse  Raur'  is  ready.  I  am 
desirous  of  seeing  more  troops  in  this  State,"  &c. 

Commander  Flusser  also  wrote  to  Commander  Davenport,  Senior 
Naval  Officer,  viz.  :  "  I  think  General  Peck  misinterpreted  General 
Wessells  letter.  We  have  had  no  scare  here  yet,  and  not  even  a 
small  one  for  several  days." 

These  able  commanders  had  so  much  confidence  in  their  ability  to 
hold  their  positions  against  them,  that  they  sent  back  the  reinforce 
ments  sent  them.  This  action  placed  me  entirely  at  rest  respecting 
affairs  at  Plymouth. 

On  Monday  (eighteenth)  afternoon,  about  5:30  P.  M.,  I  received  ad 
vices  by  deserters  that  General  Corse  was  in  front  of  the  outposts  at 
Bachelor's  Creek  with  a  large  force  of  all  arms,  and  that  General 
Pickett  would  attack  Little  Washington  on  Tuesday.  This  informa 
tion,  taken  in  connection  with  that  from  General  Wessells  of  the  six 
teenth  instant,  respecting  the  disappearance  or  diminution  of  the 
force  in  his  front,  led  the  authorities  here  to  believe  that  Little  Wash 
ington  would  be  attacked  immediately.  Two  steamers,  loaded  with 
troops,  together  with  the  gunboat  "  Tacony,"  were  despatched  to  Lit 
tle  Washington.  At  an  early  hour  on  Tuesday  morning,  the  nine 
teenth  instant,  despatches  were  received  from  General  Wessells  and 
Commander  Flusser,  announcing  an  attack  by  rebel  land  force  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  seventeenth  instant.  This  was  the  first  information 
received  from  General  Wessells  subsequent  to  the  sixteenth  instant, 
when  the  "  Tacony"  was  back,  as  above  stated.  The  latest  informa 
tion  received,  through  a  contraband,  the  servant  of  Captain  Stewart, 
A.  A.  General,  General  Wessells  staff,  is  to  the  effect,  that  early  on 
Tuesday  morning  the  "  iron  clad"  had  complete  control  of  the  Roanoke 
River,  and,  in  conjunction  with  the  floating  iron  battery — the  "  Cot 
ton  Plant" — was  attacking  the  town  in  rear,  while  the  land  forces 
were  engaging  our  troops  in  front.  From  this  statement  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  enemy  had  complete  control  of  the  Roanoke  River  within 
a  very  few  hours  of  the  time  I  received  General  Wessells  despatch  of 
Sunday  night,  the  seventeenth  instant.  On  the  reception  of  these 
despatches,  which  were  very  favorable,  steamers  were  despatched 
with  such  available  infantry  as  General  Palmer  could  spare,  together 
with  supplies  of  ammunition  for  the  army  and  navy  at  Plymouth. 
These  steamers  were  detained  in  the  Albemarle  Sound  by  the  gun- 


AJSTDERSONVILLE  HOSPITAL. 


s^^s 

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A    WELL. 
B     GATE.* 
C     FORT. 

D     HEAD-QUARTERS  TEXTS. 
E     DISPENSATORY. 
F    DISSECTING  HOUSE. 

The  other  sides  of  the  Hospital  border  upon  Swamps. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NKW    YORK    BATTERY.  225 

boats  then  lying  in  Edenton  Bay,  which  had  escaped  from  the  "  iron 
clad"  at  Plymouth.  In  my  judgment,  the  non-arrival  of  the  infantry 
at  Plymouth  is  most  fortunate,  as  they,  together  with  the  steamers, 
beyond  doubt  would  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

A  steamer,  with  despatches,  was  promptly  sent  to  General  Harland , 
commanding  at  Little  Washington,  notifying  him  of  the  state  of 
affairs  at  Plymouth.  He  was  also  requested  to  send  down  such  sur 
plus  troops  as  he  might  have,  to  be  used  at  such  points  as  might  seem 
necessary.  I  also  sent  despatches  for  the  "  Tacony"  to  proceed  at 
once  from  Little  Washington  to  Plymouth.  Before  these  despatches 
arrived,  Colonel  Button,  Chief  of  my  Staff,  had  procured  the  sailing  of 
the  "  Tacony"  for  Plymouth,  going  on  board  himself.  Colonel  Dut- 
ton  also  suggested  to  General  Harland  that  he  should  send  the 
steamer  "  Pilot  Boy"  with  the  Seventeenth  Massachusetts  Volunteers 
to  Plymouth,  but  General  Harland  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  do  so,  in 
view  of  his  situation. 

All  the  information  received  by  both  the  Senior  Naval  Officer,  Com 
mander  Davenport  and  myself  was  promptly  sent  to  your  headquar 
ters  by  both  lines  of  communication.  General  Wessells  was  supplied 
with  provisions,  forage,  ammunition,  tools  and  other  requisites  for  a 
protracted  siege.  His  command  numbered  some  two  thousand  five 
hundred  at  Plymouth,  and  the  casualties  were  very  small,  notwith 
standing  five  assaults  on  Monday.  His  position  was  intact  up  to  the 
appearance  of  the  "  iron-clads"  and  "  Cotton  Plant"  at  three  A.  M., 
the  nineteenth  ;  and  but  for  the  loss  of  the  river,  he  could  have  held 
the  land  forces  at  bay  for  weeks. 

General  Wessells  and  his  command,  and  the  navy,  under  the  late 
gallant  Lieutenant  Commander  Flusser,  made  a  heroic  fight,  worthy 
of  our  arms.  They  deserve  well  of  the  country,  and  history  will 
record  in  glowing  terms  their  honorable  conduct. 

JOHN  G.  PECK,  Major-General. 
To  Major-Gen.  B.  F.  BUTLER,  Commanding. 


15 


226  RECORDS    OF    THE 


CHAPTER  X. 

1864. 

CAPTURE    OF    PLYMOUTH. 

Up  to  this  time  the  history  of  the  Battery  had  been  a 
pleasant  one.  We  had  had  our  petty  quarrels  and  ani 
mosities.  We  had  suffered  from  jealousies  and  disap 
pointments.  We  had  accused  and  been  accused.  But 
these  things  were  trifles  after  all,  and  it  needed  but  a  day 
of  genuine  trouble  in  common  to  bring  us  all  to  a  com 
mon  sympathy,  and  an  interchange  of  kindly  words  and 
kindly  feelings.  So  far,  I  say,  our  army  experience  had 
been  unusually  free  from  hardship.  In  Newport  Bar 
racks  we  had  comfortable  log  houses  for  our  quarters, 
plenty  of  food,  plenty  of  clothing,  and  only  enough  of 
drill  for  good  gymnastic  exercise.  In  New  Berne  we  had 
been  furnished  new  tents  and  new  barracks,  and  there 
too  our  quarters,  food  and  raiment  were  excellent  and 
our  duty  comparatively  light. 

In  Plymouth  we  used  unoccupied  houses  for  quarters, 
our  scouting  duty  had  been  simply  a  pleasant  excitement. 
The  only  affliction  we  had  experienced  was  the  monotony 
and  the  ennui  arising  from  garrison  duty.  An  inactive 
soldier's  life  is  a  lazy  life  at  the  best,  and  ignorant  and 
unthoughtful  of  what  the  result  might  be,  we  welcomed 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  227 

the  attack  which  had  ended  in  bringing  us  all  together 
as  "  prisoners  of  war." 

There  is  no  question  that  the  defence  of  Plymouth  by 
its  garrison  of  1,900  men,  against  a  besieging  force  of 
12,000  men,  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  hardest  fought 
battles  of  the  war.  The  number  of  men  on  both  sides 
were  inferior  to  the  vast  armies  contending  in  Virginia, 
but  their  determination  and  their  courage  could  not  be 
surpassed. 

The  defence  and  capture  of  Fort  Chapin  was  a  hand 
to  hand  tight  of  sixty  men  against  two  regiments.  There 
was  no  surrender.  The  little  band  (two  companies  of  the 
Eighty-fifth  New  York)  held  their  own  until  their  cap 
tain  was  disemboweled,  their  lieutenant  wounded,  and 
many  of  their  comrades  dead  and  wounded,  and  the  few 
left  could  not  prevent  the  rebels  from  clambering  over 
the  parapet  and  fairly  crowding  them  out. 

The  writer  was  an  eye  witness  of  the  combat  between 
the  rebel  ram  "  Albemarle  "  and  our  gunboats,  and  believes 
that  had  the  gunner  in  charge  of  the  one  hundred  pound 
gun  done  his  duty,  by  firing  at  her  as  she  passed  his 
fort,  we  never  would  have  been  captured.  As  she  ran 
her  prow  into  the  gunboat  Southfield,  there  were  quick 
and  loud  commands  on  both  vessels.  The  men  of  the 
ram  were  ready  and  using  their  small  arms.  The  men 
of  the  Southfield  had  been  taken  by  surprise,  but  were 
none  the  less  active.  I  saw  them  trying  to  throw  shells 
down  the  smoke  pipe  of  the  ram.  They  were  also  using 
hand  torpedoes,  but  none  had  effect.  The  commander 
of  our  fleet  was  killed  almost  instantaneously,  with  the 
collision  of  the  boats,  and  the  captain  of  the  accom- 


228  RECORDS    OF    THE 

panying  gunboat,  which  had  been  chained  to  the 
Southfield,  cast  off,  and  steamed  down  the  river. 
The  success  of  the  rain  was  the  turning  of  the  scale  to 
the  Confederates.  With  no  fears  from  the  raking  range 
of  the  gunboats,  they,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  of 
April,  at  about  three  o'clock,  made  an  assault  with 
their  full  force,  and  with  only  our  thin  single  rank  at 
the  parapet  to  oppose  their  overwhelming  numbers, 
they  drove  our  boys  on  the  left  through  the  streets  of  the 
town,  killing  and  capturing  them.  Lieutenant  Hastings 
was  taken,  prisoner  while  galloping  with  one  of  his  detach 
ments  to  the  assistance  of  the  left  flank,  and  found  too 
late  that  they  had  been  flanked,  and  that  the  troops  ap 
proaching  him  were  not  the  Union  troops  retreating,  but 
the  rebel  troops  advancing  upon  him. 

On  the  right  flank,  while  we  were  firing  at  the  rebels 
in  our  front,  we  were  surprised  to  see  their  gray  ctTats  at 
our  right  and  rear.  We  double  shotted  with  canister 
and  fired,  having  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  many  of  them 
fall.  A  moment  after  we  were  surrounded  and  captured. 
We  had,  however,  spiked  our  pieces  and  killed  most  of 
our  horses. 

On  they  went  towards  the  center  fort  (Fort  Williams), 
capturing  on  the  way  Crooker's  section  of  our  Battery, 
which  had  been  doing  good  service  at  dismounting  some 
rebel  rifle  pieces  near  Fort  Williams,  and  scattering  some 
rebel  troops ;  and  still  further  on,  taking  another  section 
of  our  Battery  under  Captain  Cady,  which  had  been  pro 
tecting  the  front  of  our  fortifications.  Finally  Fort 
Williams  was  surrounded.  We  looked  upon  its  defence 
as  hopeless,  but  it  was  gratifying  to  our  pride  to  see  our 


TWENTY- FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  221) 

commanding  general  (General  Wessells)  show  so  much 
pluck.  He  had  fought  his  battle  well.  He  had  had  no 
base  to  fall  back  upon,  his  disposition  of  his  little  hand 
ful  of  troops  had  been  skillful,  and  yet  it  was  hard  for 
him  to  surrender. 

All  loyal  citizens  of  the  United  States  have  a  pride  in 
our  beautiful  national  banner,  and  ever  is  it  a  pleasure  to 
their  hearts  to  see  it  fluttering  to  the  breeze.  As  chil 
dren  we  learn  to  love  it,  honor  it  and  cherish  it. 

Two  epochs  in  my  life  have  been  strongly  marked  by 
the  sight  of  this  "  emblem  of  the  free."  First — when  it 
was  slowly  lowered  from  the  color  staff  of  Fort  Williams 
at  Plymouth,  and  the  Confederate  colors  replaced  it. 
Second — when  for  the  first  time  in  seven  months  I  saw 
it  waving  from  the  masts  of  the  vessels  that  had  come  to 
take  us  from  our  horrid  prison  pens. 

In  experiencing  the  first,  it  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  our 
pride,  our  boasted  "  Stars  and  Stripes "  falling.  We 
had  fought  for  them,  many  of  our  comrades  had  died  for 
them  ;  but  all  was  lost !  Few  of  the  many  Union  soldiers 
that  stood  around  me  had  dry  eyes  as  those  colors  fell. 
The  future  had  no  place  in  our  thoughts,  but  the  present 
made  us  vow  that  once  again  free  from  these  cursed 
bonds,  we  would,  stronger  than  ever,  fight  those  men 
that  dared  pollute  with  their  hands  our  flag. 

Stripped  of  arms,  mortified  and  sick  at  heart,  we  were 
penned  by  rebel  guards,  and  allowed  to  take  a  night's 
rest  on  the  green  sward. 

As  the  sun  lowered  we  took  a  view  of  our  once  pleasant 
and  happy  camp ;  how  desolate  and  dreary  was  it  now. 
Proud  in  our  own  strength,  we  had  been  conquered. 


230  RECORDS   OF    THE 

How  much  of  passion,  hate  and  revenge  rankled  in  the 
bosoms  of  even  those  who  would  be  Christians.  Our 
comrades  killed,  the  battle  lost  to  us,  our  friends  at  home 
frightened,  anxious  and  full  of  sorrow  ;  our  prospects  for 
freedom  from  this  degrading  imprisonment  far  in  the  dim, 
dim  future.  Cruel  taunts  were  thrown  in  our  faces,  cruel 
acts  were  committed  on  every  side  of  us.  We  tried  to 
brave  it  out,  we  tried  to  comfort  ourselves  with  the 
knowledge  that  we  had  fought  a  good  iight,  we  endeav 
ored  to  believe  that  an  immediate  exchange  of  prisoners 
would  take  place,  we  consoled  ourselves  with  the 
thought  that  none  but  cowards  would  taunt  a  fallen  foe ; 
yet  heavy  hearts  and  sad,  sad  minds  dwelt  with  us  all 
that  long  night. 

The  early  morning  found  the  rebels  plundering  and 
pillaging  the  town.  Remarkable  tastes  were  displayed 
by  different  men  among  the  rebel  soldiers,  in  selecting 
articles  which  they  individually  considered  to  be  of  the 
greatest  value. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  day  following  the  capture,  we 
were  ordered  into  line,  and  escorted  by  the  oddest  look 
ing  set  of  guards  that  a  person  could  imagine.  They 
were  loaded  down  with  dry  goods,  groceries,  hardware, 
tinware,  toys,  clothing,  bedding,  woodenware,  in  fact 
you  might  say  they  had  put  the  entire  personal  property 
of  the  village  on  their  backs,  and  were  marching  off  with 
it.  We  marched  seventeen  miles  that  day.  If  we  may 
judge  by  the  property  strewn  along  the  line  of  march, 
we  think  the  rebels  had  the  worst  of  that  day's  work. 

The  following  day  we  marched  ten  miles.  The  ne'xt 
day  we  reached  Hamilton. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  231 

On  the  25th  of  April  we  reached  Tarboro.  At  this  place 
the  officers  who  were  prisoners  were  separated  from  the 
soldiers,  and  took  the  cars  for  Eichmond. 

The  Union  soldiers  were  divided  into  squads,  and  as 
fast  as  cars  could  be  sent  were  shipped  on  platform  cars 
for  some  Southern  prison  camp.     The  weather  was  ex 
tremely  warm,  and  the  only  time  any  kind  of  comfort* 
could  be  experienced  was  when  the  cars  were  in  motion. 

The  first  prominent  place  we  reached  was  Wilming 
ton.  There  was  little  sympathy  tendered  us  there, 
since  a  squad  of  prisoners  who  had  been  through  there 
just  before  us,  had  fired  large  quantities  of  cotton 
which  was  lying  upon  the  wharves,  and  their  fire  depart 
ment  had  been  unable  to  control  the  flames.  An  im 
mense  sum  of  money  must  have  been  lost. 

At  this  place  there  was  a  great  deal  of  anxiety  to  pur 
chase  watches,  jewelry  or  greenbacks  for  Confederate 
scrip.  It  seemed  odd  enough  to  be  offered  one  thousand 
dollars  for  an  ordinary  silver  watch,  but  at  that  time  Con 
federate  money  was  on  a  rapid  decline. 

The  next  day  we  reached  Charleston.  Here  we  re 
ceived  a  great  deal  of  kindness,  and  many  tokens  of  sym 
pathy.  Water  was  given  to  us  by  women.  Cigars^food, 
fruit  and  bouquets  were  handed  to  us  by  colored  servants, 
with  the  compliments  of  their  "  massas"  and  "  missus." 
Bouquets  were  thrown  from  windows  to  us.  Words  of 
encouragement  and  of  condolence  reached  us  in  many 
ways. 

From  Charleston  we  were  taken  to  Savannah,  thence 
to  Macon,  and  thence  to  Andersonville. 
This  then  was  our  unknown  destination. 


232  RECORDS    OF    THE 

It  was  quite  dark  before  we  were  allowed  to  disem 
bark  from  the  cars.  The  stockade  was  about  half  a  mile 
distant  from  the  depot.  We  were  told  that  before  enter 
ing  the  prison  we  would  be  organized  into  detachments. 
We  were  marched  to  a  level  plot  of  ground,  through 
which  ran  the  stream  which  furnished  the  prison  stock 
ade  with  water ;  and  after  a  guard  had  been  stationed 
about  us,  we  were  permitted  to  furnish  ourselves  with 
water  and  appease  our  hunger  with  the  bacon  and  hard 
tack  that  had  been  issued  to  us  a  couple  of  days  before. 
That  was  the  last  of  hard  bread  that  I  ever  saw  in  the 
Confederacy.  And  here  was  my  introduction  to  Captain 
Wirz.  Camp  fires  had  been  started  about  the  guard  line ; 
and  suddenly,  as  if  it  had  been  the  Devil  himself,  this 
fiend  made  his  appearance  through  or  near  one  of  the 
fires.  Short  in  stature,  stooping  figure,  ill-shaped  head, 
awkward  limbs  and  movement,  a  deep-set,  ugly  eye,  and 
a  tongue  reeking  in  profanity — such  was  Captain  Wirz. 
A  glance  passed  from  comrade  to  comrade,  telling  better 
than  the  tongue  of  the  fate  we  feared  was  in  store 
for  us. 

After  much  swearing,  and  many  threats  to  punish  or 
kill,  Jie  succeeded  in  properly  organizing  us  into  detach 
ments,  and  we  were  then  informed  that  our  barracks  for 
the  night  would  be  the  ground.  Had  we  known  then 
what  was  to  be  our  future  camping  place,  how  quickly 
would  our  complaints  have  changed  to  words  and 
thoughts  of  thanks — a  practical  example  of  the  little 
we  know  in  this  world  of  the  good  or  the  bad  that  may 
be  in  store  for  us  ;  while,  in  our  ignorance,  we  are  merry 
when  we  should  be  sad,  and  are  full  of  complaints  when 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BAITER Y.  233 

we  should  be  happy.  Fatigue  makes  a  soft,  warm  bed  of 
the  cold  earth,  and  changes  a  stick  of  wood  into  a  downy 
pillow.  We  slept  soundly ;  and  what  a  blessing,  it  would 
seem,  it  would  have  been  had  the  great  majority  of  our 
fellows  never  waked  from  that  sleep.  Still,  Providence, 
wise  and  good,  saw  fit  for  them  to  wake,  and  to  enter  a 
trial  of  life  that  they  had  never  anticipated.  From 
observations  in  constant  and  intimate  relations  with 
many  of  them,  I  believe  that  long  smTering  and  constant 
thought  of  the  past  and  future  did  prepare  them  for  a 
peaceful  death  and,  I  hope,  for  a  blessed  future. 

On  the  following  morning  we  were  ordered  into  line, 
and  marched  into  the  prison  stockade.  It  then  contained 
about  10,000  prisoners,  in  an  enclosure  of  five  acres.  As 
we  moved  through  the  gate,  we  were  greeted  upon 
every  side  by  the  inmates  with  salutations  of  sorrow 
and  satire — eagerness  for  news — a  great  desire  to  "swap" 
corn  cake  for  hard-tack— and  a  general  disposition  to 
make  acquaintance  with  the  new  comers  and  their  chat 
tels. 

The  appearance  of  the  place  and  its  inmates  was  sick 
ening,  and  our  spirits  drooped  and  hearts  failed  us,  as 
our  e}res  wandered  over  the  groups  of  ragged,  swarthy, 
filthy,  emaciated  forms  that  grouped  around  us.  I  quote 
from  the  diary  of  R.  Barnes,  Sunday,  May  1,  1864 :  "  The 
prisoners  look  rough  ;  I  never  see  such  a  nasty  place  in 
all  my  life ;  we  stay  right  out  doors  all  night."  The 
weather  was  exceedingly  warm.  We  had  no  protection 
from  the  sun  during  the  day,  nor  the  dew  during  the 
night.  The  soil  was  sandy  and  full  of  fleas.  The  wood 
used  about  and  in  the  stockade  was  mostly  pitch  pine, 


234  RECORDS    OF   THE 

and  the  lampblack  soot  made  by  it  settled  upon  the 
camp  and  the  men,  so  that  they  resembled  a  delegation 
of  unwashed  charcoal  men. 

The  stream  of  water  was  entirely  inadequate  for  bath 
ing  purposes,  and  in  a  few  days  the  brightest  uniforms 
and  the  tidiest  of  our  fellows  began  to  bear  near  sem 
blance  to  the  oldest  residents. 

As  this  was  our  last*  camp,  and  proved  to  be  to  many 
of  our  .dear  comrades 'their  last  earthly  abiding  place,  we 
think  this  a  proper  place  to  give  a  brief  description  of  it. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  235 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A  N  D  E  R  S  O  N  V  I  L  L  E  . 

After  this,  whenever  any  man  who  has  lain  a  prisoner  within  the 
stockade  of  Andersonville,  would  tell  you  of  his  sufferings,  how  he 
fainted,  scorched,  drenched,  hungered,  sickened,  was  scoffed,  scourged, 
hunted  and  persecuted,  though  the  tale  be  long  and  twice  told,  as  you 
would  have  your  own  wrongs  appreciated,  your  own  woes  pitied,  your 
own  cries  for  mercy  heard,  I  charge  you  listen  and  believe  him.  How 
ever  definitely  he  may  have  spoken,  know  that  he  has  not  told  you  all. 
However  strongly  he  may  have  outlined,  or  deeply  he  may  have  col 
ored  his  picture,  know  that  the  reality  calls  for  a  better  light,  and  a 
nearer  view  than  your  clouded,  distant  gaze  will  ever  get.  And  your 
sympathies  need  not  be  confined  to  Andersonville,  while  similar  hor 
rors  glared  in  the  sunny  light,  and  spotted  the  flower-girt  garden 
fields  of  that  whole  desperate,  misguided  'and  bewildered  people. 
Wherever  stretched  the  form  of  a  Union  prisoner,  there  rose  the  sig 
nal  for  cruelty  and  the  cry  of  agony,  and  there,  day  by  day,  grew  the 
skeleton  graves  of  the  nameless  dead. 

But,  braving  and  enduring  all  this,  some  thousands  have  returned 
to  you.  And  you  will  bear  with  me,  and  these  noble  men  will  par 
don  me,  while,  in  conclusion  I  speak  one  word  of  them. 

The  unparalleled  severities  of  our  four  year's  campaigns  have  told 
upon  the  constitutional  strength  even  of  the  fortunate  soldier,  who 
alone  marched  to  the  music  of  the  Union,  and  slept  only  beneath  the 
folds  of  the  flag  for  which  he  fought.  But  they  whom  fickle  fortune 
left  to  crouch  at  the  foot  of  the  shadowless  palmetto,  and  listen  to  the 
hissing  of  the  serpent,  drank  still  deeper  of  the  unhealthful  draught. 
These  men  bear  with  them  the  seeds  of  disease  and  death,  sown  in 
that  fatal  clime,  and  ripening  for  an  early  harvest.  With  occasional 
exceptions,  they  will  prove  to  be  short-lived  and  enfeebled  men,  and 


236  RECORDS    OF    THE 

whether  they  ask  it  or  not,  will  deserve  at  your  hands  no  ordinary 
share  of  kindly  consideration.  The  survivor  of  a  rebel  prison  has 
endured  and  suffered  what  you  never  can,  and  what  I  pray  God  your 
children  never  may.  With  less  of  strength,  and  more  of  sad  and  bit 
ter  memories,  he  is  with  you  now  to  earn  the  food  so  long  denied  him. 
If  he  ask  "  leave  to  toil,"  give  it  him  before  it  is  too  late  ;  if  he  need 
kindness  and  encouragement  bestow  them  freely,  while  you  may  ;  if 
he  seek  charity  at  your  hands,  remember  that  "the  poor  you  have 
always  with  you,"  but  him  you  have  not  always,  and  withhold  it  not. 
If  hereafter  you  find  them  making  organized  effort  to  provide  for  the 
widow  and  orphan  of  the  Union  prisoner,  remember  that  it  grows  out 
of  the  heart  sympathy  which  clusters  around  the  memories  of  the 
comrades  who  perished  at  their  side,  and  a  well-grounded  apprehen 
sion  for  the  future  of  their  own,  and  aid  them. 

CLARA  BARTON. 

Andersonville,  Georgia,  was  a  wood  and  water  rail 
road  station.  It  was  located  wdthin  nine  miles  of  Ameri- 
cus,  and  for  a  time  the  prison  encampment  was  desig 
nated  as  being  located  at  Americus. 

It  was  selected  by  the  rebel  authorities  as  a  proper 
location  for  a  military  prison,  since  it  was  then  nearly 
central  as  regarded  the  Confederate  States,  and  their 
then  probability  of  maintaining  the  ground  held  by 
them. 

That  portion,  too,  of  the  Confederacy  was  better  able 
to  furnish  provisions  and  other  supplies,  having  been 
quite  remote  from  active  scenes  in  the  war. 

The  rebel  camp  of  guard  at  Andersonville  was  called 
"  Camp  Sumter." 

The  vicinity  was  a  woody,  lonely,  deserted  spot.  The 
strange  and  rapid  changes  that  have  actually  taken  place 
in  a  region,  so  few  years  since  almost  uninhabited  and 
nearly  unknown,  seem  incredible. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  237 

One  day,  a  silent  wilderness ;  another,  a  busy  camp — 
a  horrible  human  slaughter-house  ;  still  another,  and  it  is 
the  noted  graveyard  of  America — we  might  say,  of  the 
world. 

The  so-called  "  Confederate  States  Military  Prison" 
was  a  stockade  made  of  pine  logs,  planted  in  the  ground 
perpendicularly,  so  that  they  were  about  twenty  feet 
high  from  the  ground.  There  were  two  stockades,  the 
first  of  unhewn  logs,  the  second  (being  the  stockade 
proper)  of  hewn  timber,  covering  an  area  of  23^  acres. 
Inside  of  this  was  a  light  railing,  at  a  distance  of  about 
twenty  feet  from,  and  running  parallel  with,  the  four 
sides  of  the  square,  called  the  "  dead  line.  Any  prisoner 
passing  this  line,  by  any  pretence  or  accident,  endangered 
his  life.  The  space  occupied  by  the  prisoners  was  thus 
quite  materially  decreased. 

There  were  two  entrances ;  one  east,  near  the  north 
and  south  ends  of  the  stockade,  consisting  of  massive 
gates,  opening  into  spaces  about  30  feet  square,  on  the 
principle  of  a  canal  lock. 

On  the  inner  stockade,  at  intervals  of  say  ten  rods, 
were  sentry  boxes,  covered  so  as  to  protect  the  inmates 
from  storm  and  sun.  The  rebel  guard  stationed  in  these 
boxes  were  so  elevated  as"  to  have  a  perfect  view  of  all 
that  was  taking  place  within. 

The  object  of  the  two  stockades  was,  that  if  attacked, 
the  rebel  force  acting  as  guard  might  defend  themselves 
behind  the  outside  wall,  while  the  prisoners  should  still 
be  confined  within  the  inner  wall. 

At  certain  angles  of  this  outer  wall  small  parapets 
were  thrown  up,  in  the  shape  of  angular  forts,  in  some 


RECORDS   OF   THE 

of  which  artillery  was  placed,  commanding  the  prison 
grounds,  as  well  as  the  open  fields  surrounding  the 
stockade. 

A  small  stream  passed  through  the  centre  of  the  stock 
ade,  on  each  side  of  which  the  land  gradually  ascended 
to  a  height  of  about  forty  or  fifty  feet,  so  that  the  camp 
was  really  upon  two  side  hills.  At  the  head  of  this 
stream,  outside  and  in  immediate  proximity  to  the  inner 
stockade,  was  the  main  cook  house  of  the  prison.  It  was 
a  wooden,  barn -like  building,  covering  some  immense 
cauldron  kettles  and  some  very  large  but  very  poor  ovens. 
The  cooking  of  eatables  was  a  mere  farce. 

A  short  time  before  this  camp  was  deserted,  another 
cook  house  was  erected,  but  was  used  only  a  few  times. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  prison,  the  hospital  consisted 
of  a  space  of  ground  about  four  rods  square,  in  one  corner 
of  the  stockade.  A  favored  few  were  allowed  to  lay 
under  some  tarpaulins,  stretched  over  poles,  placed  hori 
zontally  on  forked  stakes. 

The  latter  part  of  May,  the  stockade  becoming  crowded, 
and  the  number  of  sick  being  largely  on  the  increase,  a 
board  enclosure,  covering  about  five  acres,  was  put  up 
on  the  south  side  of  the  stockade,  and  called  the  hospi 
tal.  The  worst  cases  were  then  removed  to  this  enclo 
sure.  A  small  stream  of  water  ran  through  the  south 
end,  and  a  cook  house  (that  is,  a  kettle)  was  placed  near 
this  stream.  A  few  tents  and  several  pieces  of  canvas 
constituted  the  shelter  for  the  sick.  This  hospital  would 
accommodate  about  1,000.  It  generally  had  2,500  in 
mates. 

The  care  of  the  sick  at  the  Hospital  was  given  to  Fed- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  239 

eral  prisoners,  and  there  was  in  this  camp  an  attempt  at 
order  and  decency. 

The  trees  were  not  allowed  to  be  cut  down,  and  the 
shade  was  one  of  the  blessings  which  the  sun  scorched 
invalids  longed  for.  The  camp  was  laid  out  in  squares, 
and  the  streets  were  policed  every  day. 

The  surgeon  in  charge  placed  his  command  first  in  four 
divisions,  a  surgeon  in  charge  of  each  division  ;  second, 
each  division  in  five  wards,  a  surgeon  to  each  ward. 

Over  each  ward  was  placed  a  "  Yankee  steward," 
whose  duty  it  was  to  stand  between  the  rebels  and  their 
sick  comrades.  Under  his  direction,  each  ward  steward 
and  half  a  dozen  nurses  gave  constant  attendance  to  the 
sick. 

Had  they  been  furnished  proper  and  sufficient  shelter, 
food  and  medicine,  the  mortality  list  would  never  have 
reached  the  marvellous  number  that  it  did. 

At  the  northwest  of  the  stockade  a  shed  was  built,  and 
called  the  "  dead  house."  To  this  all  the  bodies  \fere 
removed  both  from  the  stockade  and  from  the  hospital, 
and  after  a  description  was  taken  of  the  dead,  they  were 
numbered  and  then  removed  either  to  the  dissecting 
sheds,  or  carried  in  wagons,  about  twenty  to  twenty-five 
in  each  load,  piled  up  as  a  farmer  would  load  in  a  quan 
tity  of  butchered  hogs,  to  the  "  Graveyard."  The  Grave 
yard  was  in  the  most  pleasant  location,  and  one  might 
almost  say  the  most  desirable  of  any  of  the  several  insti 
tutions  which  went  to  make  up  Andersonville.  It  was 
on  an  elevated  spot  of  ground,  laid  out  in  streets  and 
squares. 

In  this  connection  it  would  be  proper  to  introduce  a 


240  fcECOKDS    OF   THE 

letter  written  by  Miss  Clara  Barton  in  reply  to  my  in 
quiry  concerning  the  United  States  Cemetery  at  Ander- 
sonville : 

OFFICE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  FRIENDS) 
OF  THE  MISSING  MEN  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  [• 
ARMY,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  February  2d,  1869.    ) 
DEAR  SIR  : 

In  reply  to  your  letter  I  send  a  copy  of  Atwater's  list  of  the  dead  of 
Anderson  ville,  which  contains  my  report  of  those  prison  grounds  as  I 
found  them  in  July,  1865.  It  is  as  complete  as  I  could  make  it,  and 
correct,  I  believe,  in  every  particular. 

Upon  the  departure  of  the  party  accompanying  me,  a  guard  was 
stationed  and  a  superintendent  appointed  and  sustained  by  the  Gov 
ernment,  whose  duties  were  to  keep  the-  place  and  its  surroundings 
with  as  little  change  as  possible,  and  I  presume  that  with  the  excep 
tion  of  the  natural  decay  ,*t  remains  to-day  nearly  as  described  in  my 
report. 

Although  I  have  written  much,  very  much,  in  reference  to  prisons 
and  prisoners,  it  has  been  of  a  private  nature,  addressed  and  sent  to 
the  friends  of  those  who  had  suffered  and  died  there,  and  not  pub 
lished. 

I  jpve  never  published  a  "  Book"  upon  prisons,  as  many  suppose, 
although  I  have  written  enough  upon  the  subject  to  constitute  the 
material  for  a  number  of  books  ;  but  I  have  always  considered  that  the 
prisoners  themselves  were  the  proper  persons  to  place  the  woes  of 
their  prison  life  before  the  public,  and  that  if  there  was  a  call  for  any 
thing  of  that  nature,  the  privilege  of  meeting  it,  and  the  profits  accru 
ing  therefrom  of  right  belonged  to  them. 

Regretting  that  I  have  not  more  information,  I  can  only  refer  you 
to  such  authors  as  have  written  upon  the  subject,  viz.,  Abbott,  Spen 
cer,  Hamlin  (Martyria)  and  others  whose  works  are  well  known  and 
easily  found. 

You  ask  for  my  "  bill."  I  had  hoped  that  all  my  friends,  at  least, 
thoroughly  understood  the  basis  upon  which  I  have  done  my  little 
work,  and  that  not  only  no  bills  had  ever  passed  out  of  my  office,  but 
that  no  money  for  services  or  information  rendered  had  ever  bien 
permitted  to  come  into  it  and  remain  there.  I  have  always  promptly 
returned  every  dollar  and  half  dollar  that  a  sometimes  grateful  party 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  241 

would  insist  upon  enclosing  to  me.  The  little  I  have  been  able  to  do 
for  those  who  suffered  in  our  country's  cause,  has  been  done  for  the 
love  of  it,  and  right  and  humanity. 

If  any  opportunity  present  in  which  I  can  serve  you  to  more  purpose 
than  I  have  been  able  to  do  in  this,  please  let  me  know,  and  oblige, 

Yours,  very  truly,  CLARA  BARTON. 

In  the  report  referred  to  in  Miss  Barton's  letter,  we 
find  the  following  description  of  the  present  condition  of 
Andersonville  Graveyards  : 

The  cemetery,  around  which  the  chief  interest  must  gather,  is  dis 
tant  about  300  yards  from  the  stockade,  in  a  northwesterly  direction. 
The  graves,  placed  side  by  side  in  close  continuous  rows,  cover  nine 
acres*  divided  into  three  unequal  lots  by  two  roads  which  intersect 
each  other  nearly  at  right  angles.  The  fourth  space  is  still  unoccu 
pied,  except  by  a  few  graves  of  "  Confederate"  soldiers. 

No  human  bodies  were  found  exposed,  and  none  were  removed. 
The  place  was  found  in  much  better  condition  than  had  been  antici 
pated,  owing  to  the  excellent  measures  taken  by  Major  General  Wil 
son,  commanding  at  Macon,  and  a  humane  public-spirited  citizen  of 
Fort  Valley,  Georgia,  a  Mr.  Griffin,  who,  in  passing  on  the  railroad, 
was  informed  by  one  of  the  ever-faithful  negroes  that  the  bodies  were 
becoming  exposed,  and  were  rooted  up  by  animals.  Having  verified 
this  statement,  he  collected  a  few  negroes,  sank  the  exposed  bodies, 
and  covered  them  to  a  proper  depth.  He  then  reported  the  facts  to 
General  Wilson,  and  requested  authority  to  take  steps  for  protecting 
the  grounds.  That  patriotic  officer  visited  Andersonville  in  person, 
appointed  Mr.  Griffin  temporary  superintendent,  and  gave  him  such 
limited  facilities  as  could  be  furnished  in  that  destitute  country.  It 
was  determined  to  enclose  a  square  of  fifty  acres ;  and  at  the  time  of 
our  arrival  the  fence  was  nearly  one-third  built,  from  old  lumber  found 
about  the  place.  He  had  also  erected  a  brick  kiln,  and  was  manufac 
turing  brick  for  drains  to  conduct  the  water  away  from  the  graves,  and 
protect  and  strengthen  the  soil  against  the  action  of  heavy  rains.  We 
found  Mr.  Griffin,  with  a  force  of  about  twenty  negroes  and  a  few  mules 
at  work  on  the  grounds.  I  have  understood  that  that  gentleman  fur 
nished  the  labor  at  his  own  cost,  while  General  Wilson  issued  the 
necessary  rations. 

16 


242  RECORDS    OF    TIIK 

The  part  performed  by  our  party  was  to  take  up  and  carry  forward 
the  work  so  well  commenced.  Additional  force  was  obtained  from  the 
military  commandant  at  Macon  for  completing  the  enclosure  and 
erecting  the  head  boards.  It  seems  that  the  dead  had  been  buried  by 
Union  prisoners,  paroled  from  the  stockade  and  hospital  for  that  pur 
pose.  Successive  trenches,  capable  of  containing  from  100  to  150 
bodies  each,  thickly  set  with  little  posts  or  boards,  with  numbers 
in  regular  order  carved  upon  them,  told  to  the  astonished  and  tear- 
dimmed  eye  the  sad  story  of  buried  treasures.  It  was  only  necessary 
to  compare  the  number  upon  each  post  or  board  with  that  which  stands 
opposite  the  name  on  the  register,  and  replace  the  whole  with  a  more 
substantial,  uniform  and  comely  tablet,  bearing  not  only  the  original 
number,  but  the  name,  company  and  regiment,  and  date  of  death  of 
the  soldier  who  slept  beneath. 

I  have  been  repeatedly  assured  by  prisoners  that  great  care  was 
taken  at  the  time  by  the  men  to  whom  fell  the  sad  task  of  originally 
marking  this  astonishing  number  of  graves,  to  perform  the  work  with 
faithfulness  and  accuracy.  If  it  shall  prove  that  the  work  performed 
by  those  who  followed,  under  circumstances  so  much  more  favorable, 
was  executed  with  less  faithfulness  and  accuracy  than  the  former,  it 
will  be  a  subject  of  much  regret,  but  fortunately  not  yet  beyond  the  pos 
sibility  of  correction,  The  number  of  graves  marked  is  12,920.  The 
original  records  captured  by  General  Wilson,  furnished  about  10,500  ; 
but  as  one  book  of  the  record  had  not  been  secured,  over  2,000  names 
were  supplied  from  a  copy  (of  his  own  record)  made  by  Mr.  Atwater 
in  the  Andersonville  prison,  and  brought  by  him  to  Annapolis  on  his 
return  with  the  paroled  prisoners. 

Interspersed  throughout  this  Death  Register,  were  400  numbers 
against  which  stood  only  the  dark  word  "  unknown."  So,  scattered 
among  the  thickly  designated  graves,  stand  400  tablets,  bearing  only 
the  number  and  the  touching  inscription,  "  Unknown  Union  Soldier." 

Substantially,  nothing  was  attempted  beyond  enclosing  the  grounds, 
identifying  and  marking  the  graves,  placing  some  appropriate  mot 
toes  at  the  gates  and  along  the  spaces  designed  for  walks,  and  erect 
ing  a  flagstaff  in  the  centre  of  the  cemetery.  The  work  was  com 
pleted  on  the  17th  of  August,  and  the  party  took  the  route  homeward 
by  way  of  Chattanooga,  Nashville  and  Cincinnati,  arriving  at  Wash 
ington  on  the  morning  of  August  24th. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  243 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

FACTS     AND     THEORIES. 

Thirty-two  thousand  men  were  confined  in  an  area  of 
twenty -three  and  one-half  acres  of  land. 

To  sustain  this  statement,  which,  I  believe  from  obser 
vation  to  be  correct,  I  would  refer  to  Documents  Nos.  1 
and  4  in  the  Appendix.  Official  statements  of  Inspectors 
must,  in  such  cases,  be  uncontrovertible  evidence. 

No  shelter  or  protection  from  heat,  cold  or  rain  was 
furnished  to  the  prisoners.  This  assertion  is  made  by 
Colonel  Chandler,  Dr.  Jones,  Dr.  Boy,  and  a  host  of 
other  Confederate  officers ;  and  I,  having  the  evidence  of 
my  own  eyesight,  do  endorse  it,  and  believe  that  there 
is  not  a  survivor  of  Andersonville  living  to-day  who 
would  contradict  such  assertion. 

A  limited  number  of  the  prisoners  were  the  fortunate 
possessors  of  army  blankets. 

The  erection  of  a  tent  consisted  in  stretching  one  of 
these  blankets  over  a  pole  which  had  been  laid  horizon 
tally  in  two  forked  stakes,  driven  some  feet  or  so  into  the 
ground.  These  quarters  furnished  sleeping  accommoda 
tions  for  from  four  to  six  men. 

Others,  by  bribing  guards  and  going  out  occasionally 
in  the  sqiiads  sent  outside  for  fuel,  obtained  boughs  and 
branches,  with  which  they  framed  a  shelter. 


244  RECORDS    OF    THE 

Others  dug  holes  in  the  side  hill,  sufficiently  large  to 
cover  the  head  and  shoulders,  and  deemed  themselves 
happy  in  the  possession  of  such  a  tenement. 

A  greater  portion  of  the  inmates  of  that  prison  had  no 
place  to  rest  their  sick  and  weary  bodies  in  day  or  night, 
except  upon  the  hot  sand  or  the  muddy  swamp,  with 
naught  but  the  canopy  of  heaven  to  cover  them. 

The  supply  of  water  was  insufficient.  The  water  was 
impure,  even  vile.  (See  Documents  Nos.  1,  4  and  8  in 
Appendix.)  It  was  not  fit  for  bathing  purposes,  to  say 
nothing  of  being  obliged  to  drink  it  and  cook  with  it. 
My  own  knowledge  of  this  fact  is  constituted  on  this:  that 
I  often  went  to  bathe  and  to  obtain  water  for  cooking 
and  drinking  purposes.  The  stream  ran  through  the 
centre  of  the  stockade.  On  either  side  was  a  marshy 
strip  of  ground,  extending  about  ten  feet  each  way,  and 
following  the  stream  its  entire  length.  This  morass  was 
the  general  sink  of  the  camp.  Therefore,  there  was  but 
one  point  at  which  water  could  be  obtained,  which  even 
a  burning  thirst  could  force  down  our  throats.  That 
was  at  the  head  of  the  stream,  and  in  immediate  prox 
imity  to  the  "dead  line."  "  A  thousand  men  an  hour  at 
one  spring  of  water."  Realize  that  fact,  my  reader,  and 
you  may  comprehend  one  of  our  difficult  undertakings. 
Not  unfrequently  would  prisoners  endanger  their  lives, 
by  reaching  over  the  "  dead  line"  and  plunging  their 
cups  and  buckets,  in  hoping  to  obtain  a  little  purer 
water,  and  avoid  a  weary  waiting  in  the  line.  Some 
were  shot  there. 

Below  this  point  many  bathed  and  washed  their  cloth 
ing.  The  lampblack  soot  that  settled  over  their  bodies 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NKW    YORK    RATTKKY. 

and  clothing — the  dirt  clinging  to  these  from  their  sandy 
and  muddy  beds — the  accumulation  of  body  lice  and 
other  vermin — were  all  removed  by  washing  in  this 
stream,  if  removed  at  all.  The  natural  result  of  an  at 
tempted  purification  of  such  an  army  of  persons  in  so 
small  a  stream,  which  was  at  the  same  time  receiving  the 
drainage  of  the  marshy  sink,  was,  that  the  water  became 
thick  and  sluggish  with  such  a  conglomeration  of  filth. 

Nor  was  this  all.  I  have  said  that  the  purest  water, 
which  was  used  for  drinking,  was  sought  for  at  the  head 
of  the  stream,  within  the  stockade  "  dead  line."  Out 
side  of  the  stockade,  and  above  this  portion  of  the  stream, 
I  saw,  many  times,  camps  of  the  rebel  guard  stationed 
on  the  banks  of  the  same  creek.  All  their  refuse  floated 
down  until  it  reached  the  cook  house  (which  was  built 
on  this  same  stream,  near  to  the  stockade,  and  within 
forty  feet  of  the  point  where  the  water  was  obtained  by 
the  prisoners  ;)  there  it  received  the  additional  offscour 
ings  and  offal  of  that  filthy  place,  and  the  whole  accumu 
lated  mass  poured  under  the  stockade  timbers  into  the 
cups  of  thirsty  men.  JSTone  but  men  with  parched  and 
fevered  throats  could  have  drank  it. 

In  the  latter  part  of  their  stay  a  few  wells  were  dug 
by  the  soldiers  themselves.  As  a  rule,  however,  they 
belonged  to  a  firm  of  speculative  individuals,  who  laid 
tribute  (and  considering  the  labor  incurred,  having 
nothing  but  their  hands,  tin  cups  and  half  canteens  to 
dig  with,  the  charge  was  not  unjust)  on  others  ,for  the 
use  of  the  water  from  these  wells.  The  supply  would 
have  soon  been  exhausted  if  they  had  permitted  a  gene 
ral  use  of  the  wells. 


246  RECORDS    OF    THE 

The  quantity  of  food  issued  to  the  prisoners  was  so 
meagre  as  to  gradually  induce  death  from  starvation, 
and  the  quality  was  such  that  none  but  starving  men 
could  have  been  induced  to  eat  it.  It  was  repulsive  even 
to  them. 

The  United  States  soldier  receives  a  daily  ration  of 
j-  pound  of  bacon,  1J  pound  of  fresh  or  salt  beef,  18 
ounces  of  bread  and  flour,  or  J  pound  of  hard  bread,  or 
1^  pound  corn  meal,. with  rice,  beans,  vegetables,  coffee, 
sugar,  tea,  &c.,  in  proportion. 

These  were  also  the  daily  rations  furnirfhed  the  Con 
federate  prisoners  by  the  United  States  Government. 
Compare  them  with  the  pitiable  allowance  of  food  at 
Anderson  ville,  i.  <?.,  3  to  4  ounces  .of  spoiled  bacon,  half 
pint  of  meal  or  a  piece  of  rneal  cake,  composed  of  water 
and  ground  corn,  husks  and  cob,  either  partially  baked 
or  quite  burned,  its  cubical  dimensions  being,  say  three 
inches  wide,  one  inch  thick,  and  four  to  five  inches  long. 
In  addition  to  this,  we  only  occasionally  received  a  small 
quantity  of  rice  and  a  tablespoonfull  of  molasses,  or  a 
few  worm-eaten  beans,  which  was  often  termed  "  red 
maggot  soup." 

In  the  hospital  the  food  was  the  same  as  in  the  stock 
ade,  with  the  exception  of  beef  soup  once  or  twice  a 
week  ;  and  toward  the  latter  days  a  gill  of  wheat  flour 
was  distributed  perhaps  twice  a  week. 

Rations  were  frequently  distributed  raw,  and  no  fuel 
provided  to  cook  with. 

These  rations,  which  were  daily  dealt  out  to  us,  a,nd 
called  food,  did  not  satisfy  hunger.  They  created  hun 
ger.  The  corn  bread,  which  was  the  staple  article,  after 


'SSJfe.4!! 


If 


fa 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK     BATTERY. 

it  was  masticated  and  swallowed  with  much  difficulty, 
only  irritated  the  stomach  and  bowels  and  produced 
diarrhoea,  and  as  more  was  taken  into  the  stomach,  so 
much  the  more  rapidly  the  victim  passed  along  the  road 
to  death.  There  was  no  nourishment  in  it.  It  might  as 
well  have  been  so  much  sawdust  and  water. 

The  bacon  which  was  given  us  would  have  disgusted 
a  soap-fat  man. 

Men  were  suffering  and  dying  for  want  of  acids  and 
vegetables.  Scorbutis  arises  from  want  of  acids.  It  can 
be  easily  cured  by  a  proper  supply  of  vegetables  and 
fruits.  None  were  ever  dealt  out  to  us.  Scorbutis  was 
the  great  scourge  of  the  camp. 

A  very  few  times  some  cabbages  were  sent  to  the  hos 
pital..  The  country  was  full  of  sweet  potatoes,  and  yet 
the  prisoners  saw  none  in  Anderson ville  until  the  last 
week  or  two  that  they  were  there. 

The  supply  of  fuel  was  irregular  and  entirely  inade 
quate.  It  was  generally  obtained  by  a  squad  of  the 
prisoners  detailed  each  day  or  twice  a  week.  Not  over 
forty  were  permitted  to  go  out  at  a  time.  And  this 
number  of  men  were  obliged  to  procure  from  the 
woods,  and  bring  in  upon  their  backs,  the  daily  sup 
ply  of  branches  which  constituted  the  fuel  for  the  use 
of  from  15,000  to  30,000  men.  Take  forty  sticks  of 
wood  from  your  u  four  foot "  wood  pile,  arid  so  splin 
ter  it  that  it  shall  make  15,000  pieces,  and  you  have 
an  Andersonville  "  ration  "  of  wood. 

After  having  used  every  influence  and  means  to 
produce  sickness,  no  proper  or  adequate  measures  were 


248  RECORDS    OF    THE 

taken  to  cure  or  even  to  alleviate  suffering.  (See 
Documents  Nos.  2,  3,  4-,  5  and  7  in  Appendix.) 

The  hospital  was  overcrowded.  Its  accommodations 
were  the  poorest  imaginable. 

There  were  a  few  good  tents — more  that  were  rotten 
and  torn.  No  bedding,  not  even  straw,  to  lie  upon. 
Those  who  owned  blankets  could  use  them  for  a  bed. 
Those  who  did  not,  had  the  ground  for  a  couch. 

One  line  of  tents  used  for  those  who  had  had  sur 
gical  operations  performed  upon  them,  was  furnished 
with  board  bunks.  But  they  soon  became  so  filthy, 
from  want  of  change  of  bed  clothing,  that  no  person, 
with  the  'slightest  flesh  wound,  dared  to  locate  himself 
there,  for  fear  of  being  contaminated  with  gangrene, 
which,  if  once  possessed,  doomed  a  man  to  certain  death. 

The  food  furnished  to  those  sick  men  was  just  that 
which  they  ought  not  to  have  had. 

All  persons  know  that  careful  nursing  and  proper 
diet  have  much  to  do  with  the  recovery  of  an  invalid. 
The  food  and  shelter  which  were  furnished  at  that  hos 
pital  would  have  defeated  the  skill  of  the  best  physicians 
in  the  world,  with  every  remedy  named  in  the  'Pharma 
copoeia  at  his  command.  What,  then,  could  be  expected 
of  half-fledged  physicians  (as  most  of  the  prison  surgeons 
were),  with  little  other  than  indigenous  medicines  ? 

There  were  a  few  able  physicians  and  excellent  sur 
geons — men  with  kind  hearts  and  much  sympathy,  but 
they  were  powerless. 

The  supply  of  medicine  was  so  small,  that  the  dispen 
sary  would  be  unable  to  supply  the  smallest  requisitions 
for  several  days  in  succession. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BAITER Y.  249 

None  of  the  stores  usually  found  in  hospitals  were 
ever  seen  there,  notwithstanding  such  things  were  sent 
from  our  Northern  friends  by  the  Christian  Commission. 
(See  Document  No.  9  in  the  Appendix.) 

Flour  was  the  only  luxury  ever  rationed  out  to  the 
inmates  of  the  hospital ;  and  what  could  sick  men  do 
with  flour,  having  no  fire  and  no  utensils  to  cook  with  ? 

The  best  evidence  that  can  be  had  that  these  assertions 
are  true,  is  the  mortality  that  occurred. at  that  prison. 
Thirteen  thousand  died  in  about  eight  months. 

This  tells  the  tale  of  hunger  and  thirst,  of  disease  and 
suffering,  of  want  of  comfort  and  care,  of  lack  of  nour 
ishment  and  medicine,  in  words  of  brevity,  but  words  of 
terrible  meaning. 

Notwithstanding  all  this  unjust  and  cruel  treatment, 
still  did  they  lengthen  their  list  of  crimes  by  adding 
cruelties  under  the  name  of  punishments. 

Several  times  they  ceased  to  issue  rations  for  a  day  and 
even  two  days.  Cause — "  some  few  of  our  number  had 
dug  a  tunnel  in  order  to  escape,"  and  to  punish  these 
men  thousands  of  starving  men  were  deprived  the  mor 
sel  that  "would  barely  keep  the  breath  of  life  in  them 
from  day  to  day. 

They  shot  men.  Cause — they  had  reached  over  the 
dead  line  for  water,  or  for  a  cracker  that  was  a  foot  be 
yond  the  dead  line.  And  they  shot  men  even  within  the 
dead  line.  I  myself  attended  a  man  in  the  hospital  who 
died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  in  the  leg,  made  by  a 
rebel  guard  shooting  him  while  he  lay  about  the  hospital 
camp  fire,  inside  the  dead  line.  I  was  with  him  a 
minute  after  the  report  of  the  musket  was  heard,  and  he 


250  RECORDS    OF    THE 

had  not  moved  from  the  spot  he  was  in  when  he  was 
shot. 

They  chased  men  with  dogs,  and  these  dogs  did  bite 
and  mutilate  men,  from  the  effects  of  which  they  died. 
Cause — They  were  attempting  to  escape. 

They  put  prisoners  in  chain  gangs  and  in  stocks ;  they 
whipped  them  at  a  whipping  post ;  they  hung  them  up 
by  the  thumbs.  Cause — these  prisoners  attempted  to 
escape. 

They  did  force  prisoners  to  be  vaccinated  with  poison 
ous  virus,  and  but  few  that  were  vaccinated  lived. 

They  destroyed  letters  to  our  homes  and  letters  from 
our  homes,  uselessly,  carelessly,  and  purposely  to  distress 
us.  They  destroyed  or  themfelves  used  great  quantities 
of  clothing,  food  and  delicacies  that  were  sent  to  us  by 
express  from  the  North. 

They  beat  and  kicked  sick  soldiers  who  were  too  ill  to 
keep  up  in  line  of  march.  And,  last  of  all,  when  they 
had  killed  by  inhuman  treatment  and  cruelties,  they 
buried  our  friends  and  comrades  in  an  indecent  manner 
that  even  barbarians  could  not  have  excelled. 

Starvation,  thirst,  want  of  clothing  and  shelter,  cruel 
treatment,  disease,  want  of  medicine  and  medical  attend 
ance,  and  lastly  an  indecent  burial,  are  a  terrible  and  re 
volting  list  of  horrors ;  yet  there  was  still  another  trial 
that  to  a  prisoner  was  harder  to  bear  than  all  these  :  that 
was  the  agony  of  the  mind  which  was  caused  by  the 
knowledge  that  our  imprisonment  might  be  a  long  one, 
and  death  was  certain  if  we  were  held  there  any  length 
of  time.  There  was  nothing  to  look  forward  to.  Day 
followed  day,  and  all  were  alike.  Nothing  to  divert  the 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  251 

mind,  no  exercise  for  the  body.  Sorrow  and  despair  per 
vaded  the  camp.  A  smile  was  a  rare  thing,  a  real  laugh 
almost  unknown.  There  were  hollow,  forced  laughs, 
that  went  back  down  our  throats,  like  the  resounding 
tones  of  a.  voice  in  a  dark,  damp  cavern.  They  caused 
us  rather  to  shudder  than  to  feel  merry. 

No  stories  had  interest,  they  but  recalled  the  time 
when  we  were  free.  TlTe  mind  was  left  to  itself,  and  it 
would  destroy  itself.  Depression  and  homesickness  were 
the  terrible  forms  of  disease  that  we  feared.  Once  under 
the  influence  of  either  in  that  terrible  place,  we  could 
with  greatest  difficulty  rise  from  it,  so  insinuating  and  so 
gradual  was  its  approach.  Thoughts  of  home  became 
constant.  Dreams  of  home  and  of  home  comforts,  espe 
cially  of  the  favorite  dishes  that  had  been  prepared  by 
the  hands  of  a  doting  mother,  a  pet  sister,  or  a  loving 
wife,  were  of  nightly  and  even  daily  occurrence.  Then 
the  victim  began  to  talk  of  home,  of  the  probabilities  of 
an  immediate  exchange  of  prisoners,  of  the  probable  ex 
ertions  that  were  being  made  for  his  release.  He  begins 
to  believe  that  he  will  soon  be  exchanged.  He  looks  at 
every  rebel  guard  that  approaches  the  gates  with  the  ex 
pectation  that  they  are  coming  to  free  him.  He  talks  of 
nothing  else,  his  mind  cannot  be  directed  from  that  one 
subject. 

Days  pass  by  and  yet  he  is  not  sent  for,  still  he  be 
lieves  and  watches.  He  sits  in  the  wide  camp  street, 
where  his  eye  may  rest  constantly  on  the  gate,  refuses 
food,  refuses  to  move  from  his  position  night  or  day.  His 
mind  wanders,  his  eye  is  vacant  and  staring,  he  is  weak, 
and  though  in  sitting  posture,  tails  over  to  the  ground. 


252  RECOKD8    OF   THE 

"  There,  there  they  come !  I  said  they'd  come,  I  knew 
they'd  come !  Hold  me  up,  I  must  go  to  meet  them. 
Mother!  father!  I  am  glad  you've  come.  I'm  so  tired, 
I'm  so  sick ;  take  me  home." 

God  grant  that  it  was  his  good  angels  that  came  to 
our  dying  comrade,  as  the  "  king  of  terrors"  thus  made 
his  last  day  one  of  happy  delirium. 

This  is  only  one  true  picture  out  of  many  which  I  saw 
in  Anderson ville  Hospital. 

T.  J.  Hyatt,  sergeant  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  is  the  author 
of  the  following  lines,  which  very  truthfully  tell  the 
feeling  that  was  uppermost  in  the  hearts  of  us  all : 

THE  PRISONER'S  PLEA. 

When  our  country  called  for  men.  we  came  from  forge  and  store  and 

mill, 

From  workshop,  farm  and  factory,  the  broken  ranks  to  fill ; 
We  left  our  quiet,  happy  homes  and  ones  we  loved  so  well, 
To  vanquish  all  our  Union's  foes,  or  fall  where  others  fell. 
Now  in  prison  drear  we  languish,  and  it  is  our  constant  cry, 
Oh  ye  who  yet  can  save  us,  will  ye  leave  us  here  to  die  ? 

The  voice  of  slander  tells  you  that  our  hearts  were  weak  with  fear — 

That  all,  or  nearly  all  of  us,  were  captured  to  the  rear. 

The  scars  upon  our  bodies  from  the  musket  balls  and  shell, 

The  missing  legs  and  shattered  arms,  a  truer  tale  can  tell. 

We  have  tried  to  do  our  duty  in  the  sight  of  God  on  high  ; 

Oh  ye  who  yet  can  save  us,  will  ye  leave  us  here  to  die  ? 

There  are  hearts  with  hope  still  beating,  in  our  pleasant  Northern 

homes, 

Waiting,  watching  for  the  footsteps,  that  may  never,  never  come. 
In  Southern  prisons  pining,  meagre,  tattered,  pale  and  gaunt, 
Growing  weaker,  weaker  daily,  from  pinching  cold  and  want, 
Their  brothers,  sons  and  husbands,  poor  and  hopeless  captives  lie, 
Oh  ye  who  yet  can  save  them,  will  ye  leave  them  there  to  die  ? 


TWKNTY-FOURTTI    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  253 

From  out  our  prison  gate  there's  a  graveyard  near  at  hand, 
Where  lie  twelve  thousand  Union  men,  beneath  the  Georgia  sand  ; 
Scores  on  scores  are  laid  beside  them,  as  day  succeeds  to  day, 
And  thus  it  will  be  ever,  till  they  all  shall  pass  away; 
And  the  last  can  say  while  dying,  with  upturned  and  glazing  eye, 
Both  Faith  and  Love  are  dead  at  home,  they  have  left  us  here  to  die. 
ANDERSONVILLE,  Oct.  20, 1864. 

[A  singular  incident  has  occurred  in  regard  to  this  poetry.  We  had 
supposed  Sergeant  Hyatt  was  dead.  We  had  copied  the  lines  in  his 
tent  at  Andersonville,  and  had  afterwards  been  told  that  he  died  the 
following  morning.  What  was  our  astonishment  when  our  printers 
informed  us  that  the  compositor  who  was  setting  up  this  chapter  was 
none  other  than  Sergeant  Hyatt,  and  the  author  of  this  poetry.  The 
lines  are  none  the  less  pathetic,  and  certainly  the  more  romantic,  from 
this  singular  circumstance.] 

We  had  intended  to  follow  out  in  this  chapter  a  line  of 
argument  and  facts  as  to  the  following  points : 

Was  this  inhuman  treatment  necessary? 

Did  not  the  Confederacy  possess  food,  fuel,  water, 
clothes  and  medicine,  bedding,  tents  and  lumber,  and 
was  it  not  immediately  near  Andersonville  ? 

Did  Jefferson  Davis  and  his  Cabinet  know  of  this 
condition  of  things  ? 

Were  they  not  accorded  in  by  superior  officers  of  the 
Confederacy  as  well  as  the  inferior  officers  ? 

Can,  therefore,  any  blame  be  attached  to  any  Federal 
officer  by  the  sophistry  that  declining  to  exchange  on 
unjust  and  unfair  terms,  was  assuming  the  responsibil 
ity  of  causing  this  suffering  ? 

Space  will  not  allow  us  to  introduce  evidence  on 
these  points,  but  we  can  assert  that  there  are  quantities 


254  RECORDS    OF   THE 

of  proof  to  show  that  this  treatment  was  not  necessary ; 
that  there  was  plenty  of  provisions,  lumber,  fuel,  and 
all  other  things  needed  to  save  life  and  health ;  that 
all  this  suffering  was  known  to  all  prominent  Confed 
erate  officials,  and  that  it  was  intended  to  cripple 
the  Northern  army,  by  killing  prisoners  of  war,  or  at 
least  making  them  unavailable  on  account  of  chronic 
disease. 

In  reviewing  this  chapter,  it  occurs  to  the  writer  that 
his  reader  may  complain  that  it  is  too  general  in  its  char 
acter  to  be  entitled  to  a  place  in  this  book  of  records. 
But  I  must  beg  you  to  bear  in  mind  that  in  this  in 
stance  general  experience  is  individual  experience.  The 
boys  of  the  Battery  suffered  in  the  proportion  of  100 
to  30,000. 

As  a  rule  there  was  no  show  of  weak  heart  or  falter 
ing  will.  They  stood  up  and  grappled  with  this  mon 
strous  horror,  with  the  same  unflinching  bravery  that 
they  displayed  when  in  battle.  They  were,  too,  mostly 
Christians,  and  death  rather  than  dishonor  was  their 
decisive  reply  to  overtures  or  taunts  from  rebels. 
They  met  death,  if  in  consciousness,  with  calmness 
and  even  willingness.  They  wrere  kindly  and  ten 
derly  treated  by  each  other.  The  devotion  of  the  well 
to  their  sick  comrades  was  notable. 

If  there  is  or  ever  has  been  on  this  earth  a  place  where 
selfishness  and  self  preservation  even  at  the  cost  of 
another's  life,  could  make  an  appearance,  Andersonville 
was  that  place.  Yet  to  their  honor  be  it  said,  were  the 
members  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery  true 
and  faithful  to  each  other.  Honor  and  generosity  were 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  255 

triumphant  over  animal  instinct,  and  death  became 
sweet  from  the  knowledge  of  devotion  and  sacrifice  of 
friends. 

*  Slander  and  hurtful  innuendos  to  the  contrary,  we  as 
sert  that  to  the  end  was  there  uprightness,  faithfullness 
and  affection,  between  all  of  those  boys.  And  when  that 
great  day  comes,  when  we  shall  all  meet,  we  believe  there 
will  be  joyful  greetings  by  each  to  the  other. 

In  November,  the  few  that  were  left  of  the  Battery 
were  made  to  feel  that  there  was  still  reason  for  clinging 
to  this  wretched  mode  of  existence,  since  they  were  in 
formed  by  good  authority  that  exchanges  were  actually 
taking  place.  Finally  the  writer,  with  others,  was  placed 
on  the  cars  and  started  towards  Savannah,  and  told  that 
at  Sa\  annah  we  would  meet  the  Federal  exchange  fleet. 
A  two  days'  trip,  which  was  endured  by  even  the  sick 
without  murmur,  brought  us  to  Millen,  and  the  reader 
may  imagine  the  terrible  reaction  of  spirit  and  hopes, 
when  we  were  ordered  to  march  into  the  new  prison 
stockade.  It  was  a  paradise  in  comparison  with  Ander- 
sonville,  but  only  another  dreary  prison  in  comparison 
writh  the  country  which  we  had  supposed  we  were  bound 
for — our  own  country. 

However,  our  stay,  to  our  glad  surprise,  was  of  short 
duration.  In  a  few  days  we  were  again  called  out  and 
taken  toward  Savannah.  Having  here  signed  a  pa 
role  of  honor,  we  were  taken  in  steamers  to  Venus  Point 
and  delivered  over  to  the  United  States  Exchange  Agent, 
General  Mulford. 

Our  joy  knew  no  bounds.     Threats  of  taking  them 

back  unless  they  were  less  demonstrative  could  hardly 


256      RECORDS  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  N.  Y.  BATTERY. 

check  the  shouts  of  the  captives  as  they  again  beheld  their 
long  missed  but  dearly  loved  Stars  and  Stripes.  It  was 
a  proud  and  happy  day.  Reflections  were  sad,  but  anti 
cipations  were  joyous.  We  had  sad  tales  to  tell,  but  we 
had  dear  friends  to  meet. 

It  was  a  cold,  dreary  winter  day  when  we  entered 
Perry.  Familiar  faces  crowded  about  us.  Anxious  in 
quiries  overpowered  the  warm  welcome,  and  we  felt  that 
to  be  the  bearer  of  such  tidings  was  indeed  an  unenviable 
lot. 

The  statistics  presented  in  this  book  will  tell  the  story 
far  better  than  any  description  given  by  a  single  witness. 
No  reader  of  this  volume  can  deny  that  on  the  part  of 
these  lost  comrades  there  was  a  brave  sacrifice  to  loy 
alty.  And  I  would,  with  these  last  words,  still  beseech 
you  to  show  them  honor  and  to  do  them  justice.  Let  us 
raise  a  monument  to  their  memory. 


RECORDS 

OF  VOLUNTEERS   FROM    PERRY    AND  VICINITY,  WHO   ENLISTED 

IN   THE    FEDERAL  ARMY  DURING    THE    WAR,    IN    OTHER 

ORGANIZATIONS     THAN     THE     TWENTY-FOURTH 

NEW    YORK   BATTERY. 


Under  the  suggestions  and  persuasions  of  friends  inter 
ested  in  the  monument  enterprise,  the  writer  presents, 
with  some  reluctance,  the  following  incomplete  and 
necessarily  brief  records.  The  same  opportunities  and 
the  same  documents  for  information  regarding  these  men, 
as  were  in  our  possession  and  gave  us  accurate  evidence 
regarding  the  members  of  the  Battery,  are  not  obtain 
able. 

We  know  these  sketches  are  not  full,  but,  so  far  as 
they  go,  we  believe  them  to  be  correct. 

That  these  men  are  entitled  to  equal  honor  with  our 
comrades  in  the  Battery,  we  promptly  admit,  and  we 
therefore  feel  that,  so  far  as  our  knowledge  and  such  in 
formation  as  is  in  our  power  to  obtain,  shall,  through  our 
pen,  do  them  honor,  it  shall  be  done. 

We  appeal  earnestly  in  behalf  of  those  brave  comrades 
of  the  wrar  whose  record  is,  "  died  while  in  the  service," 
and  who  lost  their  lives  for  the  sake  of  their  country. 
Let  us  all,  with  one  interest  and  purpose,  do  justice  to 
all  who  left  their  homes  and  found  a  grave  while  in  such 
noble  service. 
17 


258  RECORDS    OF    THE 

We  find  the  following  statements  concerning  the 
different  organizations  represented  in  these  personal 
records,  in  the  Adjutant-General's  Report  of  the  State  of 
New  York  : 

FIRST  NEW  YORK  MOUNTED  RIFLES. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  New  York  City,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  State  at  large.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  from  August  31, 
1861,  to  September  9,  1862.  The  original  members,  ex 
cept  veterans,  were  mustered  out  on  expiration  of  term 
of  service.  The  regiment,  composed  of  veterans  and 
recruits,  was  consolidated  with  the  Third  Regiment  New 
York  Cavalry,  July  21,  1865;  the  consolidated  force 
being  known  as  the  Fourth  Provisional  New  York  Cav 
alry. 

SECOND  NEW  YORK  MOUNTED  RIFLES. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  principally  in  the  counties  of  Erie, 
Niagara,  Wyoming,  Orleans,  Alleghany  and  Wayne.  It 
was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  from 
October,  1863,  to  February,  1864.  Mustered  out  of  ser 
vice,  August  10,  1865,  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
the  War  Department. 

Battles — Coal  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Bethesda  Church, 
Weldon  Railroad,  Pegram's  Farm,  Hatcher's  Run,  Pop 
lar  Spring  Church. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  259 

THIRD  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  New  York  City,  to 
serfe  for  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was 
composed  were  raised  principally  in  the  counties  of 
Albany,  Schoharie,  Chemung,  Delaware,  Oneida,  Onon- 
daga  and  Orleans.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  from  July  17  to  August  27,  1861.  On 
the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service  the  original  members, 
except  veterans,  were  mustered  out,  and  the  regiment, 
composed  of  veterans  and  recruits,  retained  in  service. 
It  was  consolidated  writh  the  First  Mounted  Rifles,  July 
21,  1865.  The  consolidated  force  was  designated  the 
"  Fourth  Provisional  Cavalry." 

Battles — Burn's  Church,  Young's  Cross  Roads,  Wil- 
liamston,  Kinston,  Whitehall,  Goldsborough,  Ball's 
Bluff,  Weldon  Railroad,  Edward's  Ferry,  Stony  Creek, 
Petersburg,  Malvern  Hill,  Newmarket,  Johnson's  House. 

NINTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Chautauqua,  Catta- 
raugus,  Wyoming,  Rensselaer,  Washington,  St.  Lawrence 
and  Clinton.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  from  September  9  to  November  19,  1861. 
On  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service  the  original  mem 
bers,  except  veterans,  were  mustered  out.  The  Fourth 
Regiment  New  York  Cavalry  was  transferred  to  this 
regiment  as  Companies  B,  E  and  L,  and  the  organiza 
tion,  composed  of  veterans  and  recruits,  retained  in  ser- 


260  RECORDS    OF    THE 

vice  until  July  17,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service  in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  War  Depart 
ment,  t 

Battles — Cedar  Mountain,  Brandy  Station,  Aldie, 
TTpperville,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run,  Chantilly,  Antietam, 
Gettysburg,  Kelly's  Ford,  Rappahannock  Station,  Sul 
phur  Springs,  Opequan,  Wilderness,  Coal  Harbor,  Me 
chanics  ville,  Deep  Bottom,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill, 
Cedar  Creek,  Petersburg,  Richmond. 

THIRD  NEW  YORK  ARTILLERY. 

This  regiment  (originally  Nineteenth  Regiment  In 
fantry)  was  raised  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  May  22,  1861, 
to  serve  two  years.  It  was  reorganized  as  the  Third 
Artillery,  January  31,  1862.  On  the  expiration  of  its 
term  of  service  the  original  members  were  mustered 
out,  and  the  organization,  composed  of  veterans  and 
recruits,  retained  in  service.  The  Twenty-fourth  Bat 
tery  was  assigned  to  this  regiment  as  Company  "  L," 
March  5,  1865.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  by 
batteries  from  June  22  to  July  29,  1865,  in  accordance 
with  orders  from  the  War  Department. 

EIGHTH  NEW  YORK  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 

This  regiment  (originally  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-ninth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry) 
was  organized  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  to  serve  three  years, 
and  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  as 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BA1TERY.  261 

such,  August  22,  1862.  It  was  changed  to  an  artillery 
regiment  in  February,  1863.  Two  additional  companies 
were  organized  for  this  regiment  in  January,  1864.  The 
whole  organization  was  raised  in  the  counties  of  Niagara, 
Orleans  and  Genesee  (29th  Senate  District).  Companies 
G,  H,  I  and  K  were  transferred  to  the  Fourth  New  York 
Artillery,  June  4,  1865.  Companies  L  and  M  were 
transferred  to  the  Tenth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  the  remaining  six  companies  mustered  out  June  5, 
1866,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  War  Depart 
ment. 

Battles — Spottsylvania,  Tolopotomoy,  Coal  Harbor, 
North  Anna,  Petersburg,  Strawberry  Plains,  Deep  Bot 
tom,  Ream's  Station,  Boydton  Road. 

SEVENTEENTH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  New  York  City,  to 
serve  two  years,  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  New  York,  West- 
chester,  Rockland,  Wayne,  Wyoming  and  Chenango. 
It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
May  20  to  24,  1861.  Mustered  out  June  2,  1863,  by 
reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service.  The  recruits  en 
listed  for  three  years  were  transferred  to  the  Twelfth 
Regiment  New  York  Volunteers. 

Battles — Hanover  Court  House,  Groveton,  Fredericks- 
burg. 

TWENTY-FIRST  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  to  serve 
two  years.     The  several  companies  composing  it  were 


RECORDS   OF   THE 

raised  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  It  was  mustered  into  the  ser 
vice  of  the  United  States,  May  20,  1861.  Mustered  out 
by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  May  18,  1863. 
Battles — Second  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antie- 
tam,  Fredericksburg. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  for  two  years.  The  several  companies  of  which  it 
was  composed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Alleghany, 
Broome,  Livingston,  Monroe,  Orleans,  Wayne  and  West- 
chester.  It  was  mustered  into  service,  May  21,  1861. 
Mustered  out  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service, 
May  21,  1863. 

Battles— Bull  Run,  Games'  Mills,  Seven  Days'  Battle, 
Second  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Freder 
icksburg,  Marye's  Heights. 

THIRTY-FIRST  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  raised  and  organized  in  New  York 
City.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  May  24  to  June  14,  1861.  Mustered  out  by  rea 
son  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  June  4,  1863. 

Battles— Bull  Run,  West  Point,  Games'  Mills,  Charles 
City  Cross  Roads,  Malvern  Hill,  Crampton  Gap,  Antie 
tam,  Fredericksburg,  Marye's  Heights. 

THIRTY-THIRD  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 
This  regiment  was   organized  at  Elmira,  N.   Y.,   to 
serve  for  two  years.     The  companies  of  which  it  was 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  263 

composed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Livingston,  On 
tario,  Seneca,  Wayne  and  Yates.  It  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  May  22,  1861.  Mustered 
out  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  June  2, 
1863. 

Battles — Lee's  Mills,  Williamsburg,  Mechanicsville, 
Games'  Mills,  Savage  Station,  Grampton  Gap,  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  Marye's  Heights,  Salem  Heights. 

THIRTY-SIXTH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  New  York  City,  to 
serve  two  years.  The  companies  comprising  it  were 
raised  in  the  counties  of  New  York  and  Erie.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  June  17 
to  July  4,  1861.  Mustered  out,  July  5,  1863,  on  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Battles — Seven  Pines,  Malvern  Hill,  Marye's  Heights, 
Salem  Heights. 

EIGHTY-NINTH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Broome,  Chenango, 
Delaware,  Livingston,  Monroe  and  Schuyler.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  December 
6,  1861.  On  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service  the 
original  members  (except  veterans)  were  mustered  out, 
and  the  regiment,  composed  of  veterans  and  recruits,  re 
tained  in  service  until  August  3,  1865,  when  it  was  mus 
tered  out  in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  War  De 
partment. 


264      RECORDS  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  N.  Y.  BATTERY. 

Battles — Suffolk,  Cam  den,  South  Mountain,  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTIETH  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY,  OR  NINETEENTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY,  OR 
FIRST  NEW  YORK  DRAGOONS. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Portage,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Wyoming,  Living 
ston  and  Alleghany  (30th  Senate  District).  It  was  mus 
tered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  September  3, 
1862.  Changed  to  Nineteenth  Cavalry  (First  Dragoons) 
August  11,  1863. 

ONE   HUNDRED  AND  THIRTY-SIXTH    NEW   YORK  VOLUN 
TEER  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Portage,  N.  Y.,  to 
serve  three  years.  The  companies  of  which  it  was  com 
posed  were  raised  in  the  counties  of  Alleghany,  Living 
ston  and  Wyoming  (30th  Senate  District).  It  was  mus 
tered  in  to  the  service  of  the  United  States,  September  26, 
1862.  Mustered  out,  June  13,  1865,  in  accordance  with 
orders  from  the  War  Department. 

Battles — Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  Chattanooga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Knoxville,  Buz 
zards'  Roost  Gap,  Resaca,  Cassville,  Dallas,  Gilgal 
Church,  Kulp's  Farm,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Turner's  Ferry,  Atlanta,  Milledgeville,  Savannah, 
Charleston,  Averysburg,  Bentonville,  Goldsboro',  Ra 
leigh. 


List  of  Volunteers  from  Perry  and  vicinity,  who  enlisted  in  the  Federal 
Army  during  the  Rebellion,  in  other  organizations  than  the  Twenty- 
fourth  N.  T.  Battery. 


1  Ayers,  Oscar. 

2  Andrews.  Rob't  F. 

3  Axtell,  Abner. 

4  Audrus,  Merritt. 


5  Beardsley,  Edwin  H. 

«»  Buttre,  Chauncey. 

7  Bishop,  I.  G. 

8  Babcock,  Orso. 

9  Bough  ton,  Arthur. 

10  Boughton,  Myron. 

11  Beardsley,  Alton. 

12  Bullard.  Rob't  F. 

13  Booth,  Harrison. 

14  Burden,  Albert. 

15  Burden,  Adelbert. 


16  Calkins,  Melatiah. 

17  Childs,  Reuben. 

18  Cady,  Geo.  E. 

19  Chapin,  Abner  B. 

20  Chapin,  Willard  J. 

21  Cronkhite,  Joel. 

22  Crocker,  Emory  F. 

23  Crocker,  Chas.  H. 

24  Childs,  Lucius. 


25    Dunn,  John. 


26  French,  Myron. 

27  Fitch,  William. 

28  Flint,  J.  Nelson. 

29  Farden,  Francis. 

30  Frayer,  Andrew. 


42  Keeton,  Jno 

43  Keeney,  Ansou. 


44    Lacy,  James. 


45  Matteson,  Henry. 

46  Mohannah,  Wm. 

47  Mohannah,  Barton. 


48    Noonen,  Wm. 


49  Post,  Thos.  E. 

50  Pettibone,  Levi. 

51  Pettes,  F.  W. 

52  Post,  Lucius  H. 

53  Post,  J.  Mort. 


Robinson,  Jno.  P. 
Robinson,  Zeb.  C. 
Robinson,  Adolphus 


57  Sweet,  Chas. 

58  Summy,  David. 

59  Simmons,  Alpheus. 

60  Simmons,  Jas.  B.  B. 

61  Simmons,  Phineas  A. 

62  Senter,  Lucius. 

63  Salisbury,  M.  S. 

64  Summy,  Mort. 

65  Sherman,  Seymour 


31  Griffith,  Willis. 

32  Gardner,  Avery. 

33  Grigg,  Wm.  Jr. 


66  Tallman,  Walter, 

67  Tallman,  Benj.  H. 


34  Hollenbeck,  Wallace. 

35  Hill,  Wm. 

36  Hunt,  Chas.  H. 

37  Higgins,  Frank. 

38  Hunt,  Geo.  S. 

39  Hershey,  Andrew. 

40  Hildren,  James. 


68  Westbrook,  Jno. 

69  Westbrook,  Geo. 

70  Westbrook,  Nehemiah. 

71  Wilson,  Jno.  A. 

72  Williamson,  Jas. 

73  Westlake,  Chas.  G. 


41    Jeffres,  Capt.  C. 


74    Young,  Harry  (col'd) 


PERSONAL   SKETCHES. 


1.  AYERS,  OSCAR. — Co.   H,  Seventeenth  New  York. 
No  further  information  obtained. 

2.  ANDREWS,  ROB'T  F. — At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out 

'  O 

of  the  rebellion  he  was  in  the  Western  States.  He  en 
listed  in  a  Western  light  artillery  battery  and  did  good  ser 
vice.  He  remained  in  the  army  for  the  full  term  of  his 
enlistment,  then  returned  to  Perry,  and  remained  for 
some  time.  Is  now  living  in  Chicago. 

3.  AXTELL,  ABNER. — Enlisted  in  New  York  City,  No 
vember  15th,  1861,  in  the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
Died,  wrhile  in  the  service,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  April 
22d,  1862. 

4.  ANDRUS,  MERRITT. — Enlisted  in  New  York   City, 
in  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery.     Mustered  out  at  Nash 
ville,  Tenn.     Married  Miss  Josephine  Lacy,  and  is  now 
settled  in  Perry. 

5.  BEARDSLEY,  EDWIN  H. — Enlisted  at  Warsaw,  in  the 
Seventeenth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,      Was  com 
missioned  second  lieutenant,    August   30,    1862.      Was 


RECORDS  OP  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  X.  Y.  BATTERY.       267 

promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  October  22,  1862.     Served 
his  full  time.     Is  married,  and  has  settled  in  the  West. 

6.  BUTTRE,  CHAUNCEY. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirtieth  New  York   Infantry,  at    Perry,   N.    Y., 
August,  1862.     "Was  mustered  out  in  Rochester,  July  6, 
1865.     Is  married,  and  settled  in  the  Western  States. 

7.  BISHOP,  I.   G. — Enlisted    in  the   First  New  York 
Mounted   Rifles,    at   Perry,  August   18,   1862,   but   on 
account  of  physical  inability  was  rejected. 

8.  BABCOCK,  OKSO. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  New  York  Infantry.     Was  mustered  out  from 
the  hospital,  and  now  lives  in  Moscow,  N.  Y. 

9.  BOUGHTON,  ARTHUR. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth 
New  York  Volunteers  at  Perry,  December  16th,  1861. 
Died,  while  in  service,  at  Roanoke  Island,  1862. 

10.  BOUGHTON,  MYRON. — We  cut  the  following  obituary 
from  the  Wyoming  Times  of  November  7,  1862 : 

OBITUARY. — Killed  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8th, 
Myron  Boughton,  son  of  Deacon  J.  S.  Boughton,  of  this  village,  aged 
39  years. 

This  is  the  second  time  that  Mr.  Boughton  has  been  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  a  son  (within  a  few  months)  both  of  whom  gave 
themselves  as  a  sacrifice  to  their  country.  Mr.  B.  received  a  letter 
from  Myron  a  short  time  since  saying  that  he  had  enlisted,  and  about 
a  week  after  another  letter  was  received,  written  by  stranger  hands, 
Anouncing  the  death  of  his  son  as  above.  Deceased  was  a  member 


268  RECORDS   OF   THE 

of  the   Twenty-first   Wisconsin    regiment,    and   was  mustered  into 
service  the  6th  of  September.     He  leaves  a  wife  and  three  children. 

11.  BEARDSLEY,    ALTON. — Enlisted    in    Company   K, 
Seventeenth  New  York  Infantry  Volunteers,  at  Warsaw, 
May  20, 1861.     Was  mustered  out  at  New  York  City, 
June  2,  1863.    Married  January  16,  1864,  and  now  lives 
in  Perry. 

12.  BULLARD,  ROBERT  F. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-sixth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  at  Coru- 
sus,  August  28th,  1862.     Was  mustered  out  at  Madison, 
Wis.,  September  5th,  1864.     Was  wounded  at  Lookout 
Mountain,  November  23d,  1863.     Promoted  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  January  16th,  1863.      Married,  September 
4th,  1862,  to  Miss  S.  E.  Rosenkrans.     At  present  living 
in  Perry. 

13.  BOOTH,  HARRISON. — Not  able  to  trace  particulars. 

14.  BURDEN,  ALBERT. — Enlisted   in  the  Second  New 
York    Mounted    Rifles,    at    Castile.    December,    1863. 
Mustered  out  at  Buffalo,  July3  1865. 

15.  BURDEN,  ADELBERT. — Enlisted  in  the  Second  New 
York  Rifles,  at  Perry,  January,  1864.     Mustered  out  at 
Buffalo,  July,  1865.     Is  now  living  in  Kansas. 

16.  CALKINS,    MEL  ATI  AH — Not  able    to    trace     par 
ticulars. 

t 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  269 

17.  CHILDS,    KEUBEN. — Enlisted    in    the   Thirty-third 
New  York  Volunteers,  April    22d,   186  L,  at   Geneseo. 
He  died  of  typhoid  fever,  October  27th,  1862.     He  died 
while  on  a  furlough,  at  his  own  home. 

18.  CADY,  GEOKGE  E. — Enlisted  in  the  Twenty-seventh 
New   York   Volunteer   Infantry,   May,    llth,    1861,   at 
Mount  Morris.     Served  out  his  full  time.     Wounded  at 
Gaines  Hill. 

19.  CIIAPIN,    ABXER    B. — Entered   the   army   in   the 
Quartermaster's  Department.    Was  with  Sherman  on  his 
"  March  to  the  Sea."     Saw  some  of  the  prison  pens  des 
cribed   in  this    book.     Is   now   teller    in   the   Franklin 
Bank,  Cincinnati,  O. 

20.  CHAPIN,  WILLARD  J. — Was  contract  Surgeon,  on 
duty  at    the    hospital   at   Louisville,   Chattanooga  and 
Atlanta,  and  also  with  the  Ambulance  Train  of  Sher 
man's  Army.     Is  now  married  and  settled  in  Perry. 

21.  CRONKHITE,  JOEL. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirtieth  New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  August 
llth,  1862.     Mustered  out  at  Rochester,  July  5th,  1865. 
Is  now  residing  in  Perry. 

22.  CROCKER,  EMORY  F. — Enlisted  in  the  First  New 
York  Dragoons,  at  Perry,  March  18th,  1864.     Mustered 
out,  July  1st,  1864,  at  Alexandria,  Va.     Is  now  living 
ic  Perry. 


270  RECORDS   OF    THE 

23.  CROCKER,  CHARLES  H. — Enlisted  in  the  First  New 
York  Dragoons,  at  Perry,  August,  1862.     Mustered  out 
at   Bochester,   N.   Y.,  July  6th,   1865.     Now  lives   in 
Warsaw,  N.  Y. 

24.  CHILDS,  Lucius. — No  trace  of  his  enlistment. 

25.  DUNN,  JOHN. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth  New 
York  Volunteers,    Perry,   September,    1861.     Mustered 
out  at  Washington,  D.  C.     Served  out  his  time  in  full, 
and  now  lives  in  Perry. 

26.  FRENCH,  MYRON. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and    Thirty  -  sixth   New   York    Infantry,    at   Portage, 
August,  1862.    He  is  reported  as  having  died  at  Stafford 
C.  H.,  Va.,  April,   1863.     In  our  school   days,  French 
was   an   excellent   scholar,    and   a    favorite   among    his 
fellows.     We  had  lost  track  of  him    after  he  left  the 
academy,  and  it  was  with  sorrow  that  in   searching  for 
these  records,  we,  for  the  first  time,  learned  that  he  too 
was  sacrificed  on  this  unholy  altar. 

27.  FITCH,  WILLIAM. — No  trace  of  his  enlistment. 

28.  FLINT,  J.  NELSON,  who  spent  his  boyhood  among 
us,  will  be  remembered  by  many  of  our  citizens,  and 
especially  by  those  who  passed  their  student  life  at  Perry 
Academy  during  its  palmiest  days.     He  writes  us,  that 
he  still  regards  Perry  as  his   adopted  home,  and  recalls 
as   the   happiest    period    of   his    life,    his    school    day 
associations  with  Keeney,  Hershey,  Yeckley,  Earnum, 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  271 

Erricson,  Deverell,  Chapin,  Moore,  Wolf,  Eiddell,  and  a 
score  of  others.  He  finished  his  academic  studies  at 
Perry  Academy  in  1857.  Graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1861.  Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  New 
York  Volunteers  (afterwards  First  New  York  Dragoons), 
at  Portage,  N.  Y.,  August,  1862.  Shared  the  successes 
and  disasters  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  until  the 
termination  of  the  Rebellion  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  April  9,  1865.  Was  promoted  successively  to 
sergeant,  sergeant-major,  second  lieutenant  and  first  lieu 
tenant.  During  the  campaign  of  1864,  was  detailed  as 
aid-de-camp  to  Major-General  Sheridan.  Was  brevetted 
both  by  the  Governor  of  New  York  and  by  the  Presi 
dent,  for  gallantry  in  the  field.  A  short  time  ago,  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  shaking  hands  with  him  in  Elko,  a 
mining  town  of  Eastern  Nevada,  where  he  now  is. 

29.  FARDEN,  FRANCIS. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  at  Castile,  December  28,  1863. 
Mustered    out   at   Washington,    D.  C.,    September  26, 
1865.     Now  living  in  Iowa. 

30.  FRAYER,  ANDREW. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery  at  Castile,  December  28r  1863. 
Mustered   out   at    Washington,    D.    C.,    September  26, 
1865.     Now  living  in  Iowa. 

31.  GRIFFITH,  WILLIS. — Enlisted  at   Mt.   Morris,   N. 
Y.,  in  the  Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteer  Infan 
try,  May  11, 1861.     Died  while  in  service,  December  24, 

1862. 


272  RECORDS    OF    THE 

32.  GARDNER,    AVERT. — Enlisted    at    Perry,   in    the 
Eighty-ninth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  September, 
1861.      Mustered    out    at    Washington,   D.    C.      Was 
wounded  and  re-enlisted.     Now  lives  at  Perry. 

33.  GRIGG,  WM.,  JR.— Enlisted  at  Castile,  N.  Y.,  in 
the  Eighth  New  York  Volunteers,  December  28,  1863. 
Mustered   out   at   Washington,    D.    C.,   September   26. 
Now  resides  in  Perry.  » 

34.  HOLLENBECK,  WALLACE. — Enlisted  at  Perry,  1861, 
in  the  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry.     Served  his  full  time, 
and  we  are  informed,  since  his  return  to  his  home,  died. 

35.  HILL,  WILLIAM. — Enlisted  at  Perry,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
Eighty-ninth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry.     Was  dis 
charged  on  account  of  being  disabled  by  a  wound  received 
in  battle.     He  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  R.  Keeney,  of 
Perry,  and  is  now  living  in  Kansas. 

36.  HUNT,  CHARLES  H. — Enlisted  at  Mt.  Morris,  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  May  11, 
1861.    Was  taken  prisoner  July  21,  1861.    He  Avas  soon 
after  exchanged,  and  returned  to  Perry,  and  died  at  his 
father's  house,  July  3,  1862.     He  was  not  a  strong  man, 
arid  doubtless  his  imprisonment  hastened  his  death. 

37.  HIGGINS,    FRANK — Enlisted    in    the    First    New 
York  Mounted  Kines.      We   have  no  further  trace  of 
him. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  273 

38.  HUNT,  GEORGE  S. — We  copy  the  following  from  the 
correspondence  of  the  Wyoming  Times,  of  August 
15,  1862: 

I  regret  the  painful  duty  of  announcing  the  death  of  George  S. 
Hunt,  of  Perry,  who  died  at  Mill  Creek  Hospital,  near  Fortress 
Monroe,  on  Friday,  July  25th,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  with 
many  of  the  Perry  boys,  George  accompanied  your  correspondent  to 
Camp  ticott,  Staten  Island,  and  following  the  fortunes  of  Captain 
Bennett's  company,  he  returned  to  Elmira,  where  he  re-enlisted  in 
deeper  earnest,  and  a  few  weeks  found  him  asserting  the  authority  of 
his  flag  on  the  bloody  and  unfortunate  battle-field  of  Bull  Run.  George 
never  possessed  an  invulnerable  constitution,  and  the  exposure  inci 
dent  to  a  soldier's  life,  frequently  manifested  itself  in  severe  attacks 
of  headache,  on  which  occasions  he  mourned  the  absence  of  friends, 
particularly  his  mother,  to  whom  he  was  deeply  attached.  During 
the  week  of  battles,  he  regretted  nothing  more  than  his  inability  to 
join  us  in  the  dangers  of  the  field,  and  till  the  end  he  insisted  in  de 
voting  all  his  feeble  efforts  to  the  care  of  our  wounded.  But  the 
malaria  of  the  Chickahominy  was  in  his  system,  and  he  failed  under 
the  exposure  and  excitement  of  the  seven  days  march.  Harrison's 
Landing  offered  little  accommodation  to  the  thousands  of  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  but  through  the  kindness  of  Captain  Hall,  George 
was  removed  to  more  comfortable  quarters.  Still  desiring  to  be  with 
his  company,  he  soon  returned  to  camp,  where  he  enjoyed  the  hospi 
tality  of  Westbrook's  tent  till  hospital  tents  were  erected,  to  which 
he  was  immediately  removed. 

But  it  was  soon  evident  that  he  would  not  recover  here,  and  he 
was  removed  to  receive  better  care.  His  case  was  hopeless  and  he 
died. 

His  comrades  here  feel  genuine  sorrow  at  his  death,  and  while 
they  mourn  the  loss  of  a  brave  and  faithful  soldier,  they  have  great 
consolation  in  knowing  that  he  who  braved  death  at  the  cannon's 
mouth,  did  not  fear  to  cross  the  threshhold  of  the  tomb. 


39.  HERSHEY,    ANDREW. — He  joined   the   East    Gulf 
Squadron  as   Assistant    Surgeon,    10th    of  July,   1863. 

18 


274  RECORDS    OF    THE 

Died  of  heart  disease,  at  Key  West,  Florida,  February  6, 
1864.  Was  promoted  to  Surgeon.  As  lie  was  one  of 
our  warmest-hearted  and  jolliest  companions  in  school, 
he  had  many  friends,  and  no  enemies,  during  our  school 
days.  His  popularity  seemed  to  follow  him  as  he  went 
into  the  world.  Of  strangers  he  soon  made  warm 
friends,  and  the  duties  which  his  profession  demanded 
from  him,  we  have  no  doubt,  performed  with  a  faithful 
ness  and  cheerfulness  that  were  welcome  to  the  sick  and 
suffering. 

40.  HILDREN,  JAMES. — Enlisted   in  the  Eighth   New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  at  Castile,  December  28,  1863. 
Mustered  out  September  26,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Now  living  in  Perry. 

41.  JEFFRES,  C.,  CAPT. — Enlisted  in  the  Thirty-sixth 
New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  August,  1862.     Mus 
tered  out  at  Washington,  D.   C.,  February,    1863.     Is 
now  living  at  Okolona,  Wisconsin. 

42.  KEETON,  JOHN. — Enlisted  in  the  First  New  York 
Mounted  Rifles,  at  Castile,  August  13th,  1862.     Muster 
ed  out  at  Richmond,  Ya.,  May  19,  1865.     Is  now  living 
at  Castile. 

43.  KEENEY,  ANSON. — Enlisted    in    the  Eighty-ninth 
New  York  Volunteers,  at  Mt.  Morris,  September,  1861. 
Mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  is  now  living 
in  Perry. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  NEW  YORK  BATTERY.  275 

44.  LACY,  JAMES. — Enlisted  in  the  First  New  York 
Mounted  Kifles,  at  Perry,  August,  1862,  and  died  while 
in  the  service.     Lacy  was  still  another  of  the  old  Perry 
Academy  school  mates  that  was  swallowed  up  in  the 
maelstrom   of    enthusiastic    patriotism,    and   before    we 
hardly  knew  that  he  had  gone  to  the  war,  we  heard  the 
sad  tidings  of  his  death. 

45.  MATTESON,  HENRY. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  at  Castile,  December  28,  1863. 
Mustered   out    at   Washington,  D.    C.,    September   26, 
1865.     Is  now  living  in  Perry. 

46.  MOHANNAH,   WILLIAM. — Enlisted   in   the   Thirty- 
first  New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  January  15,  1863. 
Mustered  out  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  January,  1865.     Now 
living  at  Castile,  N.  Y. 

47.  MOHANNAH,  BARTON.— Enlisted  in  the  Thirty-first 
New  York  Volunteers,    at   Perry,  January   15,    1863. 
Died  while  in  the  service. 

48.  NOONEN,  WILLIAM. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  N.  Y., 
August,  1862.     Was  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  3, 
1863.     Mustered  out  from  hospital,  and  is  now  living  at 
Perry. 

49.  POST,  THOMAS  E. — Enlisted  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in 
the  Third  New  York  Artillery,  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  war.    Was  stationed  in  New  Berne  at  the 


276  RECORDS    OF   THE 

time  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Battery  was  there, 
and  we  thus  renewed  our  boyhood  acquaintance.  Served 
his  full  time,  and  was  mustered  out  at  New  Berne,  N.  C. 
Is  now  living  in  Buffalo. 

50.  PETTIBONE,  LEVI. — Enlisted  in   the   Eighty-ninth 
New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  October,  1861.     Died 
at  Roanoke,  N.  C.,  1862,  while  in  service. 

51.  PETTES,    FRED.   W. — Enlisted  in  the   First   New 
York   Cavalry,    July,    1861.      Was   transferred   to   the 
Fiftieth  New  York  Engineers.    Commissioned  as  second 
lieutenant  in  June,  1862.     Was  promoted  to  first  lieu 
tenant,  and  afterwards   to   captain.     Is   now  living  at 
Warsaw. 

52.  POST,  Lucius  H. — Enlisted  at  Warsaw,  first  in  the 
Seventy-fourth   New  York  Militia  (see  Salisbury's  Re- 
cord).     Soon  after  enlisted  from  Warsaw  in  the  Seven 
teenth  New  York.     Was  wounded  at  one  of  the  battles 
in  Ya.     Promoted  to  sergeant,  and  afterwards  received 
a  commission  as  lieutenant.     His  army  correspondence 
to  the  country  newspapers  was  quite  interesting.     Was 
married  to  Miss  Morris,  of  Warsaw,  and  is  now  publish 
ing  a  popular  newspaper  in  Dekalb,  111. 

53.  POST,  J.  MORT. — Enlisted  at  Rochester,  July  16, 
1861,  in  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry.     Mustered  out  at 
Suffolk,  Ya.,  July  12,  1865.     Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  at 
Newport  News,  Ya.,  December  16,    1863.     Promoted 
from  sergeant  to  second  lieutenant,  June,  1864.     From 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK     BATTERY.  277 

second  lieutenant  to  first  lieutenant  and  adjutant,  July 

6,  1864.     From  first  lieutenant  to  captain,  January  8, 
1865.     Married  to   Miss  Minerva   Morris,  of  Warsaw, 
January  26,  1865.     Now  living  at  Independence,  Iowa. 

5-i.  ROBINSON,  JOHN  P. — Enlisted  at  Portage,  August 

7,  1862,  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  New  York 
Volunteer  Infantry.     Was  mustered  in  as  captain.     Be 
came  an  exceedingly  popular  officer.     Was  promoted  to 
major  in  1865,  and  since  the  war  has  received  a  colonel's 
commission.      Was    mustered    out    July   17,    1865,    at 
Rochester,    N.    Y.      In   November,  1867,  was   elected 
County  Clerk  of  Wyoming  County,  polling  a  large  vote 
on  his  war  record.     Was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Bristol, 
of  Warsaw,  and  is  at  present  living  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y. 

55.  ROBINSON,  ZEB.  C. — Enlisted  in  the  Third  New  York 
Cavalry,  at  Rochester.  Zeb.  Robinson  and  Mort.  Post 
were  then  attached  to  a  company  of  the  Third  New 
York  Cavalry,  which  was  frequently  stationed  at  the 
same  place  that  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  was 
stationed.  We  thus  kept  up  quite  a  social  acquaintance 
until  the  Battery  was  ordered  to  Plymouth.  We  missed 
their  companionship.  Robinson  was  promoted  to  a 
lieutenantcy.  Served  his  full  time  in  active  service.  The 
last  we  heard  of  him  was,  that  he  had  just  entered  into 
a  contract  for  life  with  Miss  Scovill,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

56.  ROBINSON,  APOLPHUS. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hun 
dred   and   Thirtieth  New   York  Volunteers,  at  Perry, 


278  RECORDS    OF   THE 

August  11,  1862.     Mustered  out  at  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
July  15,  1865.     Is  now  living  at  Perry,  N.  Y. 

57.  SWEET,  CHARLES. — Cannot  give  particulars  ;  but 
we  are  informed  that  lie  enlisted  as  a  musician.     On  his 
return  married  Miss  Julia   Aiidrus.     Cannot   give   his 
present  address. 

58.  SUMMY,  DAVID. — Enlisted  in  the  Twenty-seventh 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Mount  Morris,  N.  Y., 
May  11,  1861.     Served  out  his  full  time. 

59.  SIMMONS,  ALPIIEUS. — Enlisted  in  the   Eighty-ninth 
New  York  Volunteers,   at   Perry,   September  8,   1861. 
Mustered  out  at  Washington,  November  1,  1862.     Was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant.     Is,  now  living  in  Perry. 

60.  SIMMONS,  JAMES  B.  B. — Enlisted  in  the  First  New 
York  Dragoons,  at  Perry,  1863.     Died  while  in  service, 
at  Perry,  September  1,  1864. 

61.  SIMMONS,  PHINEAS  A. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Thirtieth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  at 
Perry,  1862.     Died  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  while  in  the  service, 
October,  1862. 

1  62.  SENTER,  Lucius. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth 
New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  September,  1861.  Died 
at  Eoanoke  Island,  N.  C.,  in  1862,  while  in  service. 

63.  SALISBURY,  M.  S. — His  first  enlistment  was  April 
25,  1861,  in  Buffalo,  in  Company  C  of  the  Seventy-fourth 
New  York  Militia.  On  account  of  no  more  militia  regi- 


TWENTY-FOURTH    NEW    YORK    BATTERY.  279 

inents  being  accepted  by  the  Government,  he  imme 
diately  enlisted  and  was  mustered  in  Company  C  of  the 
Twenty-first  New  York  Volunteers,  May  7, 1861.  Mus 
tered  out  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1863. 

Salisbury  was  the  first  man  that  enlisted  from  the  town 
of  Perry.  He  was  obliged  to  go  to  Buffalo  to  enlist, 
since  at  that  time  there  was  no  opportunity  for  enlisting 
at  Perry.  We  deem  such  first  enlistment  quite  an 
honor ;  and  as  we  have  as  yet  been  unable  to  find  any 
one  who  ranks  him  in  date  of  enlistment,  we  cheerfully 
accord  to  him  that  honor. 

Ed.  Beardsley  and  Lucius  Post  enlisted  about  the  same 
time  from  Warsaw. 

•64.  SUMMY,  MORT. — ~No  positive  information  obtained. 
Was  told  that  he  enlisted  as  a  musician. 

.  65.  SHERMAN,  SEYMOUR. — Enlisted  in  the  Thirtieth 
New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  January  15,  1863. 
Died  at  hospital  a  short  time  after  his  enlistment. 

66.  TALLMAN,  WALTER. — Enlisted  in  the  Eighth  New 
York    Heavy   Artillery,    at    Castile,   November,    1863. 
Mustered  out  at  Eochester,  August,  1865,   and  is  now 
living  in  Castile. 

67.  TALLMAN,  BENJ.  H. — We  are  informed  by  Captain 
C.  E.  Martin,  of  Mount  Morris,  that  Tallman  enlisted  in 
the  Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  May 
11,  1861.     Served  his  time   out,  and  then   enlisted  in 
the  Twenty-fourth  N.  Y.  Cavalry. 


280       RECORDS  OF  THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  N.  Y.  BATTERY. 

68.  WESTBROOK,  JOHN. — Enlisted  at  Geneseo,  N.  Y., 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  New  York  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  1861.     Was  wounded  while  in  battle.    Mus 
tered  out  at  Smoketown.     Is  now  living  in  Perry. 

69.  WESTBROOK,  GEORGE. — Enlisted  at  Geneseo,  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry. 

70.  WESTBROOK,  NEIIEMIAH. — Enlisted  at  Lima,  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  New   York  Volunteer  Infantry,   1861. 
Mustered  out  at  Elmira. 

71.  WILSON,  JOHN  A. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirtieth  New  York  Volunteers.     Was  discharged 
soon  after  his  enlistment,   and  is   now  living   in  Cold 
Water,  Mich. 

X 

72.  WILLIAMSON,  JAMES. — EnlistNed  in  the  Eighth  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,   at  Perry,  December  28,  1863. 
Was  mustered  out  at  Kochester,  N.  Y.,  September,  1865, 
and  is  now  living  in  Perry. 

73.  WESTLAKE,  CHARLES  G. — Enlisted  in  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Thirtieth  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  August 
11,  1862.     Mustered  out  at  Elmira,  June,  1865,  and   is 
now  living  at  Perry. 

74.  YOUNG,  HARRY  (Colored). — Enlisted  in  the  Thirty- 
first  New  York  Volunteers,  at  Perry,  January  15,  1863. 
Mustered  out  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  January,  1865,  and   is 
now  living  in  Perry. 


APPENDIX. 


DOCUMENT   No.    1. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL    D.   T.    CHANDLER'S    REPORT    OF     HIS   INSPEC 
TION   OF   THE   ANDERSONVILLE   PRISON. 

ANDEKSON,  August  5,  1864. 

COLONEL  :  Having,  in  obedience  to  instructions  of  the  25th  ultimo, 
carefully  inspected  the  prison  for  Federal  prisoners  of  war  and  post  at 
this  place,  I  respectfully  submit  the  following  report : 

The  Federal  prisoners  of  war  are  confined  within  a  stockade  fifteen 
feet  high,  of  roughly  hewn  pine  logs,  about  eight  inches  in  diameter, 
inserted  five  feet  into  the  ground,  enclosing,  including  the  recent  ex 
tension,  an  area  of  540  by  260  yards.  A  railing  around  the  inside  of 
the  stockade,  and  about  twenty  feet  from  it,  constitutes  the  "dead 
line,"  beyond  which  the  prisoners  are  not  allowed  to  pass,  and 
about  three  and  a  quarter  acres  near  the  centre  of  the  enclosure 
are  so  marshy  as  to  be  at  present  unfit  for  occupation — reducing  the 
available  present  area  to  about  twenty-three  and  a  half  acres,  which 
gives  somewhat  less  than  six  square  feet  to  each  prisoner.  Even  this 
is  being  constantly  reduced  by  the  additions  to  their  number.  A  small 
stream  passing  from  west  to  east  through  the  enclosure,  at  about  150 
yards  from  its  southern  limit,  furnishes  the  only  water  for  washing 
accessible  to  the  prisoners.  Some  regiments  of  the  guard,  the  bakery 
and  cook  house  being  placed  on  the  rising  grounds  bordering  the 
stream  before  it  enters  the  prison,  renders  the  water  nearly  unfit  for 
use  before  it  reaches  the  prisoners.  This  is  now  being  remedied  in 
part  by  the  removal  of  the  cook  house.  Under  the  pressure  of  their 
necessities  the  prisoners  have  dug  numerous  wells  within  the  enclo- 


2  APPENDIX. 

sure,  from  which  they  obtain  an  ample  supply  of  water  to  drink,  of 
good  quality.  Excepting  the  edges  of  this  stream,  the  soil  is  sandy 
and  easily  drained,  but  from  thirty  to  fifty  yards  on  each  side  of  it  the 
ground  is  a  muddy  marsh,  totally  unfit  for  occupation,  and  having 
been  constantly  used  as  a  sink  since  the  prison  was  first  established, 
it  is  now  in  a  shocking  condition,  and  cannot  fail  to  breed  pestilence. 
An  effort  is  being  made  by  Captain  Wirz,  commanding  the  prison,  to 
fill  up  the  marsh  and  construct  a  sluice,  the  upper  end  to  be  used  for 
bathing,  &c.,  and  the  lower  end  as  a  sink,  but  the  difficulty  of  procur 
ing  lumber  and  tools  very  much  retards  the  work,  and  threatens  soon 
to  stop  it.  No  shelter  whatever  nor  material  for  constructing  any 
have  been  provided  by  the  prison  authorities,  and  the  ground  being 
entirely  bare  of  trees,  none  is  within  reach  of  the  prisoners,  nor  has  it 
been  possible,  from  the  overcrowded  state  of  the  enclosure,  to  arrange 
the  camp  with  any  system.  Each  man  has  been  permitted  to  protect 
himself  as  best  he  can,  stretching  his  blanket,  or  whatever  he  may 
have,  above  him  on  such  sticks  as  he  can  procure,  thatches  of  pine  or 
whatever  his  ingenuity  may  suggest  and  his  cleverness  supply.  Of 
other  shelter  there  is  and  has  been  none.  The  whole  number  of  pris 
oners  is  divided  into  messes  of  270  and  subdivisions  of  90  men,  each 
under  a  sergeant  of  their  own  number  and  selection,  and  but  one  Con 
federate  States  officer,  Captain  Wirz,  is  assigned  to  the  supervision  and 
control  of  the  whole.  In  consequence  of  this  fact,  and  the  absence  of 
all  regularity  in  the  prison  grounds,  and  there  being  no  barracks  or 
tents,  there  are  and  can  be  no  regulations  established  for  the  police 
consideration  of  the  health,  comfort  and  sanitary  condition  of  those 
within  the  enclosure,  and  none  are  practicable  under  existing  circum 
stances.  In  evidence  of  their  condition,  I  would  cite  the  facts  that  num 
bers  have  been  murdered  by  their  comrades,  and  that  recently,  in 
their  desperate  efforts  to  provide  for  their  own  safety,  a  court  organ 
ized  among  themselves  by  authority  of  General  Winder,  commanding 
the  post,  granted  on  their  own  application,  has  tried  a  large  number 
of  their  fellow  prisoners,  and  sentenced  six  to  be  hung,  which  sen 
tence  was  duly  executed  by  themselves  within  the  stockade,  with  the 
sanction  of  the  post  commander.  His  order  in  the  case  has  been  for 
warded  by  him  to  the  War  Department.  There  is  no  medical  attend 
ance  provided  within  the  stockade.  Small  quantities  of  medicines  are 
placed  in  the  hands  of  certain  prisoners  of  each  squad  or  division,  and 


A  1*1' KM  MX.  •> 

the  sick  are  directed  to  be  brought  out  by  sergeants  of  squads  daily 
at  "sick  call,"  to  the  medical  officers  who  attend  at  the  gate.  The 
crowd  at  these  times  is  so  great  that  only  the  strongest  can  get  access 
to  the  doctors,  the  weaker  ones  being  unable  to  force  their  way  through 
the  press ;  and  the  hospital  accommodations  are  so  limited,  that 
though  the  beds  (so  called)  have  all  or  nearly  all  two  occupants  each, 
large  numbers  who  would  otherwise  be  received  are  necessarily  sent 
back  to  the  stockade.  Many — twenty  yesterday — are  carted  out 
daily,  who  have  died  from  unknown  causes,  and  whom  the  medical 
officers  have  never  seen.  The  dead  are  hauled  out  daily  by  the  wagon 
load,  and  buried  without  coffins,  their  hands  in  many  instances  being 
first  mutilated  with  an  axe  in  the  removal  of  any  finger  rings  they 
may  have.  The  sanitary  condition  of  the  prisoners  is  as  wretched  as 
can  be,  the  principal  causes  of  mortality  being  scurvy  and  chronic 
diarrhea,  the  percentage  of  the  former  being  disproportionately  large 
among  those  brought  from  Belle  Isle.  Nothing  seems  to  have  been 
done,  and  but  little  if  any  effort  made  to  arrest  it  by  procuring  proper 
food.  The  ration  is  one-third  of  a  pound  of  bacon,  and  a  pound  and  a 
quarter  of  unbolted  corn  meal,  with  fresh  beef  at  rare  intervals,  and 
occasionally  rice.  When  to  be  obtained— very  seldom— a  small  quantity 
of  molasses  is  substituted  for  the  meat  ration.  A  little  weak  vinegar, 
unfit  for  use  has  sometimes  been  issued.  The  arrangements  for  cook 
ing  and  baking  have  been  wholly  inadequate,  and  though  additions 
are  now  being  completed,  it  will  still  be  impossible  to  cook  for  the 
whole  number  of  prisoners.  Raw  rations  have  to  be  issued  to  a  very 
large  proportion,  who  are  entirely  unprovided  with  proper  utensils, 
and  furnished  so  limited  a  supply  of  fuel  they  are  compelled  to  dig 
with  their  hands  in  the  filthy  marsh  before  mentioned  for  roots,  &c.  No 
soap  or  clothing  has  ever  been  issued.  After  inquiring,  I  am  confident 
that  by  slight  exertions  green  corn  and  other  anti-scorbutics  could 
readily  be  obtained.  I  herewith  hand  two  reports  of  Chief  Surgeon 
White,  to  which  I  would  respectfully  call  your  attention.  The  pres 
ent  hospital  arrangements  were  only  intended  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  sick  of  10,000  men,  and  are  totally  insufficient,  both  in  charac 
ter  and  extent,  for  the  present  needs,  the  number  of  prisoners  being 
now  more  than  three  times  as  great,  the  number  of  cases  requiring 
medical  treatment  is  in  an  increased  ratio.  It  is  impossible  to  state  the 
number  of  sick,  many  dying  within  the  stockade  whom  the  medical 


APPENDIX. 

officers  never  see  or  hear  of  until  their  remains  are  brought  out  for  in 
terment.  The  rate  of  death  has  been  steadily  increased  from  374-10  per 
mil.  during  the  month  of  March  last,  to  62  7-10  per  mil.  in  July.  Of 
the  medical  officers,  but  ten  hold  commissions  ;  nearly  all  of  the  others 
are  detailed  from  the  militia,  and  have  accepted  the  position  to  avoid 
serving  in  the  ranks,  and  will  relinquish  their  contracts  as  soon  as 
the  present  emergency  is  passed  and  the  militia  is  disbanded.  But 
little  injury  would  result  from  this,  however,  as  they  are  generally 
very  inefficient..  Not  residing  at  the  post,  only  visiting  it  once  a  day 
at  sick  call,  they  bestow  but  little  attention  to  those  under  their  care. 
The  small  pox  hospital  is  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  E.  Sheppard,  P.  A. 
C.  S.  More  than  half  the  cases  in  it  have  terminated  fatally.  The 
management  and  police  of  the  general  hospital  grounds  seem  to  be  as 
good  as  the  limited  means  will  allow,  but  there  is  pressing  necessity 
for  at  least  three  times  the  number  of  tents  and  amount  of  bedding 
now  on  hand.  The  supply  of  medicines  is  wholly  inadequate,  and 
frequently  there  is  none,  owing  to  the  great  delays  experienced  in  fill 
ing  the  requisitions. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  no  more  prisoners  be 
sent  to  this  already  overcrowded  prison,  and  that  at  the  two  additional 
localities  selected  by  General  Winder  under  instructions  from  General 
Bragg,  the  one  near  Millen,  Georgia,  the  other  some  point  in  Alabama 
south  of  Cahawba,  arrangements  be  at  once  made  for  the  excess  over 
15,000  at  this  post,  and  such  others  as  may  be  captured.  Since  my  in 
spection  was  made,  over  1,300  prisoners  have  been  added  to  the  num 
ber  specified  in  the  reports  herewith.  With  a  view  of  relieving  to 
some  extent  this  point  as  soon  as  possible,  I  respectfully  suggest  that 
2,000  of  those  who  most  need  the  change,  especially  the  Belle  Isle 
prisoners,  be  at  once  sent  to  Macon,  to  occupy  the  quarters  vacated  by 
the  Federal  officers,  that  being  the  greatest  number  that  can  be  prop 
erly  accommodated  with  shelter  at  that  point. 

I  am,  Colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  T.  CHANDLER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General. 

Colonel  R.  H.  CIIILTON, 

Assistant  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General. 


APPENDIX. 


DOCUMENT  No.  2. 

SURGEON   ISAIAH  WHITE'S   REPORT   TO   COLONEL   CHANDLER. 

CHIEF  SURGEON'S  OFFICE,  August  2, 1864. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
sanitary  condition  of  the  Confederate  States  military  prison  : 

The  number  of  sick  on  morning  report  is  one  thousand  three  hun 
dred  and  five  (1,305)  in  hospital,  and  five  thousand  and  ten  (5,010)  in 
quarters. 

The  total  number  of  deaths  from  the  organization  of  the  prison 
(February  24,  1864)  up  to  date,  is  4,585. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  ratio  per  one  thousand  (1,000)  of 
mean  strength  during  the  different  months  : 


Month. 

Mean 
Strength. 

Deaths. 

Ratio  per  1,000 
of  Mean 
Strength. 

March  

7  500 

283 

37.4 

April               

10  000 

576 

57.6 

May 

15  000 

708 

472 

June  

22  291 

1,201 

53.87 

July 

29  030 

1  817 

627 

I 

Owing  to  insufficient  hospital  accommodation,  many  are  treated  in 
quarters  who  should  be  in  hospital.  The  present  capacity  of  the  hos 
pital  is  for  1,400  sick.  The  hospital  is  situated  in  an  oak  grove,  affording 
good  shade.  Through  the  hospital  passes  a  stream,  furnishing  an  am 
ple  supply  of  water  for  cleanliness ;  drinking  water  is  obtained,  of 
good  quality,  from  wells  and  springs  on  the  banks  of  the  stream. 

The  tents  are  insufficient  in  number,  and  not  of  proper  size  for  the 
treatment  of  sick  ;  most  of  them  are  the  small  fly  tent  and  tent  flies. 
There  should  be  at  least  two  hundred  hospital  or  five  hundred  wall 
tents  to  properly  accommodate  the  sick.  It  has  been  impossible  up  to 
this  time  to  obtain  straw  for  bedding,  this  not  being  a  grain-growing 
district ;  small  crops  of  wheat  have  been  grown  this  year,  and  efforts 
are  being  made  to  collect  a  sufficient  quantity  as  soon  as  the  present 
crop  is  thrashed  ;  but  there  is  a  lack  of  transportation  at  the  post,  and 
farmers  are  unwilling  to  hire  their  own  teams  for  the  purpose.  The 
attendants  are  paroled  prisoners,  who,  as  a  rule,  are  faithful  to  the  f>er- 


fi 


APPENDIX. 


formahce  of  tlieir  duty,  being  actuated  by  the  -improvement  of  their 
own  condition  on  removal  from  the  stockade,  and  a  fear  of  a  return  if 
negligent  in  the  performance  of  duty,  apart  from  a  desire  to  serve 
their  own  sick  comrades.  The  number  of  medical  officers,  until  the 
recent  call  of  militia  by  the  Governor  of  Georgia,  was  utterly  inade 
quate  ;  since  that  time  a  number  of  physicians  have  been  employed 
by  contract,  and  others  have  been  detailed  by  the  Governor  to  serve 
in  the  medical  department.  These  have  been  recently  assigned,  and 
it  is  impossible  to  decide  on  their  proficiency.  The  other  medical  offi 
cers,  with  a  few  exceptions,  are  capable  and  attentive.  The  physicians 
who  have  been  recently  employed  will  no  doubt  cancel  their  contracts 
as  soon  as  the  militia  is  disbanded,  and  the  services  of  the  detailed 
physicians  will  also  be  lost.  With  this  view  I  would  suggest  that  a 
sufficient  number  of  competent  medical  officers  be  assigned. 

There  is  a  deficiency  of  medical  supplies  issued  by  the  medical  pur 
veyor.  Supplies  of  medicines  have  occasionally  been  entirely  ex 
hausted,  and  we  have  been  left  several  days  at  a  time  without  any 
whatever.  This  has  arisen  from  the  delay  experienced  in  sending 
requisitions  to  medical  director  at  Atlanta  for  approval. 

The  hospital  ration  is  commuted  as  for  other  general  hospitals,  and 
supplies  for  the  subsistence  and  comfort  of  sick  are  purchased  with 
hospital  fund.  Heretofore  we  have  been  able  to  supply  sick  with 
vegetables  :  but  during  the  entire  month  of  July  the*  commissary  has 
been  without  funds,  and  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  purchasing 
on  time. 

The  ration  issued  to  the  prisoners  is  the  same  as  that  issued  to  the 
Confederate  soldiers  in  the  field,  viz. :  one-third  of  a  pound  of  pork, 
and  a  pound  and  a  quarter  of  meal,  with  an  occasional  issue  of  beans, 
rice,  and  molasses. 

The  meal  is  issued  unbolted,  and  when  baked  is  coarse  and  un 
wholesome. 

Amongst  the  old  prisoners,  scurvy  prevails  to  a  great  extent,  which 
is  usually  accompanied  by  diseases  of  the  digestive  organs.  This,  in 
connection  with  the  mental  depression  produced  by  long  imprison 
ment,  is  the  chief  cause  of  mortality.  There  is  nothing  in  the  topogra 
phy  of  the  country  that  can  be  said  to  influence  the  health  of  the 
prison. 

Tjlie  land  is  high  and  well   drained,  the  soil  light  and  sandy,  with 


APPENDIX.  < 

no  marshes  or  other  source  of  malaria  in  the  vicinity,  except  the  small 
stream  within  the  stockade.  The  densely  crowded  condition  of  the 
prisoners,  with  tlje  innumerable  little  shelters  irregularly  arranged, 
precludes  the  enforcement  of  proper  police,  and  prevents  free  circula 
tion  of  air. 

The  lack  of  barrack  accommodation  exposes  the  men  to  the  heat  of 
the  sun  during  the  day  and  to  the  dew  at  night,  and  is  a  prolific  source 
of  disease. 

The  margins  of  the  stream  passing  through  the  stockade  are  low 
and  boggy,  and  having  been  recently  drained,  have  exposed  a  large 
surface  covered  with  vegetable  mould  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  a  condi 
tion  favorable  to  the  development  of  malarious  diseases.  It  is  the  de 
sign  of  the  commandant  of  the  prison  to  cover  the  surface  with  dry 
sand,  but  the  work  has  been  unavoidably  retarded. 

The  absence  of  proper  sinks  (and  the  filthy  habits  of  the  men)  have 
caused  a  deposit  of  fecal  matter  over  almost  the  entire  surface  of  this 
bottom  land. 

The  point  of  exit  of  the  stream  through  the  walls  of  the  stockade  is 
not  sufficiently  bold  to  permit  a  free  passage  of  ordure. 

When  the  stream  is  swollen  by  rains  the  lower  portion  of  this  bot 
tom  land  is  overflowed  by  a  solution  of  excrement,  which,  subsiding, 
and  the  surface  exposed  to  the'sun,  produces  a  horrible  stench. 

Captain  Wirz,"  the  commandant  of  the  prison,  has  doubtless  ex 
plained  to  you  the  difficulties  which  have  prevented  these,  with  other 
projected  improvements,  in  the  way  of  bathing  and  other  arrange 
ments  for  cleanliness. 

Respectfully  submitted : 

ISAIAH  H.  WHITE, 

Chief  Surgeon  Post. 
Colonel  CHANDLER. 


DOCUMENT  No.  3. 

PROM   THE  TESTIMONY  OF   FATHER   HAMILTON. 

The  priests  who  went  there  after  me,  while  administering  the  sacra 
ment  to  the  dying,  had  to  use  an  umbrella,  the  heat  was  so  intense. 
Some  of  them  broke  down  in  consequence  of  their  services  there.,  In 


APPENDIX. 

the  month  of  August,  I  think,  we  had  three  priests  there  constantly. 
We  had  a  priest  from  Mobile,  who  spoke  three  or  four  languages,  in 
asmuch  as  you  could  find  every  nationality  inside  the  stockade,  and 
two  from  Savannah,  and  we  had  one  from  Augusta  at  another  time. 
One  of  the  priests  from  Savannah  came  to  Macon,  where  I  reside,  com 
pletely  prostrated,  and  was  sick  at  my  house  for  several  days. 

As  I  said  before,  when  I  went  there,  I  was  kept  so  busily  engaged 
in  giving  the  sacrament  to  the  dying  men,  that  I  could  .not  observe 
much ;  but  of  course  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  closed  as  to  what  I 
saw  there.  I  saw  a  great  many  men  perfectly  naked,  walking  about 
through  the  stockade  perfectly  nude ;  they  seemed  to  have  lost  all 
regard  for  delicacy,  shame,  morality  or  anything  else.  I  would  fre 
quently  have  to  creep  on  my  hands  and  knees  into  the  holes  that  the 
men  had  burrowed  in  the  ground  and  stretch  myself  out  alongside  of 
them  to  hear  their  confessions.  I  found  them  almost  living  in  vermin 
in  those  holes  ;  they  could  not  be  in  any  other  condition  than  a  filthy 
one,  because  they  got  no  soap  and  no  change  of  clothing,  and  were 
there  all  huddled  up  together. 

I  never  at  any  time  counted  the  number  of  dead  bodies  being  taken 
out  of  the  stockade  in  the  morning.  I  have  never  seen  any  dead  car 
ried  out  of  the  stockade.  I  have  seen,  dead  bodies  in  the  hospital  in 
the  morning.  In  the  case  of  the  man  in  the  hospital  of  whom  I  was 
speaking  a  while  ago,  after  I  had  heard  his  confession,  and  be 
fore  I  gave  him  the  last  rites  of  the  church  sacrament  in  "  extreme 
unction,"  as  we  call  it,  I  saw  them  placing  the  night  guards  in  the 
hospital,  and  knew  that  I  would  not  be  able  to  get  out  after  that.  I 
told  him  that  I  would  return  in  the  morning  and  give  him  the  other 
rites  of  the  church,  if  he  still  lived.  I  was  in  there  early  the  next 
morning,  and  in  going  down  one  of  the  avenues  I  counted  from  forty 
to  sixty  dead  bodies  of  those  who  had  died  during  the  night  in  the 
hospital.  I  had  never  seen  any  dead  bodies  in  the  stockade.  I  have 
seen  a  person  in  the  hospital  in  a  nude  condition,  perfectly  naked. 
They  were  not  only  covered  with  the  ordinary  vermin,  but  with  mag 
gots.  They  had  involuntary  evacuations,  and  there  were  no  persons 
to  look  after  them.  The  nurses  did  not  seem  to  pay  any  attention 
whatever,  and  in  consequence  of  being  allowed  to  lie  in  their  own 
filth  for  some  hours,  vermin  of  every  description  had  got  on  them, 
which  they  were  unable  to  keep  off  them.  This  was  in  the  latter  part 


APPENDIX.  V 

of  May.  I  never  noticed  in  the  stockade  the  men  digging  in  the 
ground,  and  standing  in  the  sand  to  protect  themselves  from  the  sun. 
I  did  not  see  any  instance  of  that  kind.  I  have  seen  them  making 
little  places  from  a  foot  to  a  foot  and  a  half  deep,  and  stretching  thei-r 
blankets  right  over  them.  I  have  crawled  into  such  places  frequently 
to  hear  the  confessions  of  the  dying.  They  would  hold  from  one  to 
two  ;  sometimes  a  prisoner  would  share  his  blanket  with  another,  and 
allow  him  to  get  under  shelter. 


DOCUMENT  No.  4. 

REPORT  OF  SURGEON  JONES,  C.  S.  A. 

The  Confederate  military  prison  at  Anderson ville,  Georgia,  consists 
of  a  strong  stockade,  twenty  feet  in  height,  enclosing  twenty-seven 
acres.  The  stockade  is  "formed  of  strong  pine  logs,  firmly  planted  in 
the  ground.  The  main  stockade  is  surrounded  by  two  other  similar 
rows  of  pine  logs,  the  middle  stockade  being  sixteen  feet  high,  and 
the  outer  twelve  feet.  These  are  intended  for  offence  and  defence. 
If  the  inner  stockade  should  at  any  time  be  forced  by  the  prisoners, 
the  second  forms  another  line  of  defence  ;  while  in  case  of  an  attempt 
to  deliver  the  prisoners  by  a  force  operating  upon  the  exterior,  the 
outer  line  forms  an  admirable  protection  to  the  Confederate  troops, 
and  a  most  formidable  obstacle  to  cavalry  or  infantry.  The  four  angles 
of  the  outer  line  are  strengthened  by  earthworks  upon  commanding 
eminences,  from  which  the  cannon,  in  case  of  an  outbreak  among  the 
prisoners,  may  sweep  the  entire  enclosure ;  and  it  was  designed  to 
connect  these  works  by  a  line  of  rifle  pits,  running  zigzag  around  the 
outer  stockade  ;  those  rifle  pits  have  never  been  completed.  The 
ground  enclosed  by  the  innermost  stockade  lies^in  the  form  of  a  paral 
lelogram,  the  larger  diameter  running  almost  due  north  and  south. 

The  stockade  was  built  originally  to  accommodate  only  10,000  pris 
oners,  and  included  at  first  seventeen  acres.  Near  the  close  of  the 
month  of  June,  the  area  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  ten  acres. 
The  ground  added  was  situated  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  largest 
hill. 


10 


APPENDIX. 


Within  the  circumscribed  area  of  the  stockade,  the  Federal  prison 
ers  were  compelled  to  perform  all  the  offices  of  life— cooking,  washing, 
urinating,  defecation,  exercise  and  sleeping.  During  the  month  of 
March  the  prison  was  less  crowded  than  at  any  subsequent  time,  and 
then  the  average  space  of  ground  to  each  prisoner  was  only  98.7  feet, 
or  less  than  seven  square  yards.  The  Federal  prisoners  were  gath 
ered  from  all  parts  of  the  Confederate  States  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  crowded  into  the  confined  space,  until  in  the  month  of  June  the 
average  number  of  square  feet  of  ground  to  each  prisoner  was  only 
33.2,  or  less  than  four  square  yards.  These  figures  represent  the  con 
dition  of  the  stockade  in  a  better  light  even  than  it  really  was  ;  for*a 
considerable  breadth  of  land  along  the  stream,  flowing  from  west  to 
east,  between  the  hills,  was  low  and  boggy,  and  was  covered  with  the 
excrement  of  the  men,  and  thus  rendered  wholly  uninhabitable,  and, 
in  fact,  useless  for  every  purpose  except  that  of  defecation.  The  pine's 
and  other  small  trees  and  shrubs,  which  originally  were  scat 
tered  sparsely  over  these  hills,  were  in  a  short  time  cut  down  and  con- 
sumed'by  the  prisoners  for  firewood,  and  no  shade  tree  was  left  in  the 
entire  enclosure  of  the  stockade.  With  their  characteristic  industry 
and  ingenuity,  the  Federals  constructed  for  themselves  small  huts  and 
caves,  and  attempted  to  shield  themselves  from  the  rain  and  sun  and 
night  damps  and  dew.  But  few  tents  were  distributed  to  the  pris 
oners,  and  those  were  in  most  cases  torn  and  rotten. 

THE   HOSPITAL. 

The  entire  grounds  are  surrounded  by  a  frail  board  fence,  and  are 
strictly  guarded  by  Confederate  soldiers,  and  no  prisoner  except  the 
paroled  attendants  is  allowed  to  leave  the  grounds  except  by  a  special 
permit  from  the  commandant  of  the  interior  of  the  prison. 

The  patients  and  attendants,  near  two  thousand  in  number,  are 
crowded  into  this  confined  space  and  are  but  poorly  supplied  with  old 
and  ragged  tents.  Large  numbers  of  them  were  without  any  bunks 
in  the  tents,  and  lay  upon  the  ground,  oftentimes  without  even  a 
blanket. '  No  beds  or  straw  appeared  to  have  been  furnished.  The 
tents  extend  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  small  stream,  the  eastern 
portion  of  which,  as  we  have  before  said,  is  used  as  a  privy  and  is 
loaded  with  excrements ;  and  I  observed  a  large  pile  of  corn  bread, 
bones  and  filth  of  all  kinds,  thirty  feet  in  diameter  and  several  feet  in 


APPENDIX. 


11 


height,  swarming  with  myriads  of  flies,  in  a  vacant  space  near  the 
pots  used  for  cooking.  Millions  of  flies  swarmed  over  everything  and 
covered  the  faces  of  the  sleeping  patients,  and  crawled  down  their 
open  mouths,  and  deposited  their  maggots  in  the  gangrenous  wounds 
of  the  living  and  in  the  mouths  of  the  dead.  Mosquitos  in  great 
numbers  also  infested  the  tents,  and  many  of  the  patients  were  so 
stung  by  these  pestiferous  insects,  that  they  resembled  those  suffering 
with  a  slight  attack  of  the  measles. 

The  manner  of  disposing  of  the  dead  was  also  calculated  to  depress 
the  already  desponding  spirits  of  these  men,  many  of  whom  have 
been  confined  for  months,  and  even  for  near  two  years  in  Richmond 
and  other  places,  and  whose  strength  has  been  wasted  by  bad  air,  bad 
food,  and  neglect  of  personal  cleanliness.  The  dead  house  is  merely 
a  frame  covered  with  old  tent  cloth  and  a  few  bushes,  situated  in  the 
southwestern  corner  of  the  hospital  grounds.  When  a  patient  dies 
he  is  simply  laid  in  the  narrow  street  in  front  of  his  tent,  until  he  is 
removed  by  Federal  negroes  detailed  to  carry  off  the  dead ;  if  a  pa 
tient  dies  during  the  night,  he  lies  there  until  the  morning/and  dur 
ing  the  day,  even,  the  dead  were  frequently  allowed  to  remain  for 
hours  in  these  walks.  In  the  dead  house  the  corpses  lie  upon  the 
bare  ground,  and  were  in  most  cases  covered  with  filth  and  vermin. 

There  appeared  to  be  almost  absolute  indifference  and  neglect  on 
the  part  of  the  patients  of  personal  cleanliness;  their  persons  and 
clothing  in  most  instances,  and  especially  of  those  suffering  with  gan 
grene  and  scorbutic  ulcers,  were  filthy  in  the  extreme  and  covered 
with  vermin.  It  was  too  often  the  case  that  patients  were  received 
from  the  stockade  in  a  most  deplorable  condition.  I  have  seen  men 
brought  in  from  the  stockade  in  a  dying  condition,  begrimed  from 
head  to  foot  with  their  own  excrements,  and  so  black  from  smoke  and 
filth  that  they  resembled  negroes  rather  than  white  men.  That  this 
description  of  the  stockade  and  hospital  has  not  been  overdrawn,  will 
appear  from  the  reports  of  the  surgeons  in  charge,  appended  to  this 
report. 


12  APPENDIX. 

DOCUMENT  No.  5. 
DR.  PELOT'S  REPORT. 

FIRST  DIVISION,  C.  S.  M.  P. 
HOSPITAL,  September  5, 1864. 

SIR  :  As  officer  of  the  day  for  the  past  twenty-four  hours,  I  have  in 
spected  the  hospital  and  found  it  in  as  good  condition  as  the  nature  of 
the  circumstances  will  allow.  A  majority  of  the  bunks  are  still  un- 
supplied  with  bedding,  while  in  a  portion  of  the  division  the  tents  are 
entirely  destitute  of  either  bunks,  bedding  or  straw,  the  patients  being 
compelled  to  lie  upon  the  bare  ground.  I  would  earnestly  call  atten 
tion  to  the  article  of  diet.  The  corn  bread  received  from  the  bakery 
being  made  up  without  sifting,  is  wholly  unfit  for  the  use  of  the  sick  ; 
and  often  (in  the  last  twenty-four  hours)  upon  examination  the  inner 
portion  is  found  to  be  perfectly  raw.  The  meat  (beef)  received  by  the 
patients  does  not  amount  to  over  two  ounces  a  day,  and  for  the  past 
three  or  four  days  no  flour  has  been  issued.  The  corn  bread  cannot 
be  eaten  by  many,  for  to  do  so  would  be  to  increase  the  diseases  of  the 
bowels,  from  which  a  large  majority  are  suffering,  and  it  is  therefore 
thrown  away.  All  their  rations  received  by  way  of  sustenance  is  two 
ounces  of  boiled  beef  and  half  pint  of  rice  soup  per  day.  Under  these 
circumstances,  all  the  skill  that  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  their 
cases  by  the  medical  officer  will  avail  nothing.  Another  point  to 
which  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  call  your  attention,  is  the  deficiency  of  med 
icines.  We  have  but  little  more  than  indigenous  barks  and  roots 
with  which  to  treat  the  numerous  forms  of  disease  to  which  our  atten 
tion  is  daily  called.  For  the  treatment  of  wounds,  ulcers,  &c..  we  have 
literally  nothing  except  water. 

Our  wards— some  of  them — were  filled  with  gangrene,  and  we  are 
compelled  to  fold  our  arms  and  look  quietly  upon  its  ravages,  not  even 
having  stimulants  to  support  the  system  under  its  depressing  influ 
ences,  this  article  being  so  limited  in  supply  that  it  can  only  be  issued 
for  cases  under  the  knife.  I  would  respectfully  call  your  earnest  at 
tention  to  the  above  facts,  in  the  hope  that  something  may  be  done  to 
alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  sick. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  CREWS  PELOT, 
Assistant  Surgeon  C.  S.  and  Officer  of  the  Day. 


APPENDIX. 


13 


DOCUMENT  No.  6. 


CONSOLIDATED  RETURN  FOR  CONFEDERATE  STATES  MILITARY  PRISON, 

CAMP   SUMTER,   ANDERSONVILLE,   GEORGIA,  FOR  THE 

MONTH   OF   AUGUST,   1864. 

Prisoners  on  hand  1st  of  August,  1864 : 
In  camp 29,985 

In  hospital..                                    1,693 

31,678 

Received  from  various  places  during  August 3,078 

Recaptured 4  3,082 

Carried  out 34,760 

Died  during  the  month  of  August 2,993 

Sent  to  other  parts 23 

Exchanged 21 

Escaped 30     3,067  3,061 

Total  on  hand..                                                      ....  31,693 


Of  which  there  are  on  the  31st  of  August — 

In  camp 29,473 

In  hospital ...        2,220 

31,693 


DOCUMENT  No.  7. 

DR.    HOPKINS'    REPORT. 

ANDERSONVILLE,  GEORGIA,  August  1, 1864. 

GENERAL  :  In  obedience  to  your  order  of  July  28,  requiring  us  to 
make  a  careful  examination  of  the  Federal  prison  and  hospital  at  this 
place,  and  to  ascertain  and  report  to  you  the  cause  of  disease  and  mor 
tality  among  the  prisoners,  and  the  means  necessary  to  prevent  the 
same,  this  has  been  complied  with,  and  we  respectfully  submit  the 
following : 

CAUSE   OF   DISEASE   AND   MORTALITY. 

1.  The  large  number  of  prisoners  crowded  together. 

2.  The  entire  absence  of  all  vegetables  as  diet,  so  necessary  as  a 
preventive  of  scurvy. 


14 


APPENDIX. 


3.  The  want  of  barracks  to  shelter  the  prisoners  from  sun  and  rain. 

4.  The  inadequate  supply  of  wood  and  good  water. 

5.  Badly  cooked  food. 

6.  The  filthy  condition  of  prisoners  and  prison  generally. 

7.  The  morbific  emanations  from  the  branch   or   ravine  passing 
through  the  prison,  the  condition  of  which  cannot  be  better  explained 
than  by  naming  it  a  morass  of  human  excrement  and  inud. 

PREVENTIVE   MEASURES. 

1.  The  removal  immediately  from  the  prison  of  not  less  than  15,000 
prisoners. 

2.  Detail  on  parole  a  sufficient  number  of  prisoners  to  cultivate  the 
necessary  supply  of  vegetables,  and  until  this  can  be  carried  into 
practical  operation,  the  appointment  of  agents  along  the  different 
lines  of  railroads  to  purchase  and  forward  a  supply. 

3.  The  immediate  erection  of  barracks  to  shelter  the  prisoners. 

4.  To  furnish  the  necessary  quantity  of  wood,  and  have  wells  dug 
to  supply  the  deficiency  of  water. 

5.  Divide  the  prisoners  into  squads,  place  each  squad  under  the 
charge  of  a  sergeant,  furnish 'the  .necessary  quantity  of   soap,  and 
hold  these  sergeants  responsible  for  the  personal  cleanliness  of  his 
squad  ;  furnish  the  prisoners  with  clothing  at  the  expense  of  the  Con 
federate  government,  audit'  that  government  be  unable  to  do  so,  can 
didly  admit  our  inability  and  call  upon  the  Federal   government  to 
furnish  them. 

6.  By  a  daily  inspection  of  bakehouse  and  baking. 

7.  Cover  over  with  sand  from  the  hillsides  the  entire  "morass"  not 
less  than  six  inches  deep,  board  the  stream  or  watercourse,  and  con 
fine  the  men  to  the  use  of  the  sinks,  and  make  the  penalty  for  disobe 
dience  of  such  orders  severe. 

FOR  THE   HOSPITAL. 

We  recommend — 

1st.  The  tents  be  floored  with  plars  ks  ;  if  plank  cannot  be  had,  with 
puncheons  ;  and  if  this  be  impossible,  then  with  fine  straw,  to  be  fre 
quently  changed. 

3d.  We  find  an  inadequate  supply  of  stool  boxes,  and  recommend 
that  the  number  be  increased,  and  that  the  nurses  be  required  to  re- 


APPENDIX.  15 

move  them  as  soon  as  used,  and  before  returning  them  see  that  they 
are  well  washed  and  limed. 

3d.  The  diet  for  the  sick  is  not  such  as  they  should  have,  and  we 
recommend  that  they  be  supplied  with  the  necessary  quantity  of  beef 
soup  with  vegetables. 

4th.  We  also  recommend  that  the  surgeons  be  required  to  visit  the 
hospitals  not  less  than  twice  a  day. 

We  cannot  too  strongly  recommend  the  necessity  for  the  appoint 
ment  of  an  efficient  medical  officer  to  the  exclusive  duty  of  inspecting 
daily  the  prison  hospital  and  bakery,  requiring  of  him  daily  reports  of 
their  condition  to  headquarters. 

We  have  the  honor  to  remain,  general,  very  respectfully, 

T.  S.  HOPKINS, 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon. 


DOCUMENT  No.  8. 

TESTIMONY    OF    BOSTON    COSBETT. 

It  was  a  living  mass  of  putrefaction  and  filth  ;  there  were  maggots 
there  a  foot  deep.  Any  time  we  turned  over  the  soil  we  could  see  the 
maggots  in  a  living  mass  ;  I  have  seen  the  soldiers  wading  through 
it,  digging  for  roots  to  use  for  fuel.  I  have  seen  around  the  swamp, 
the  sick  in  great  numbers,  lying  pretty  much  as  soldiers  lie  when  they 
are  down  to  rest  in  line  after  a  march.  In  the  morning  I  could  see 
those  who  had  died  during  the  night,  and  in  the  daytime  I  could  see 
them  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  with  their  feet  swelled  to  an 
enormous  size  :  in  many  cases  large  gangrene  sores  filled  with  mag 
gots  and  flies  which  they  were  unable  to  keep  off.  I  have  seen  men 
lying  there  in  a  state  of  utter  destitution,  not  able  to  help  themselves, 
lying  in  their  own  filth.  They  generally  chose  that  place  (near  the 
swamp),  those  who  were  most  offensive,  because  others  would  drive 
them  away,  not  wanting  to  be  near  those  who  had  such  bad  sores. 
They  chose  it  because  of  its  being  so  near  to  the  sinks.  In  one  case  a 
man  died  there,  I  am  satisfied,  from  the  effects  of  lice.  When  the 
clothes  were  taken  off  his  body,  the  lice  seemed  as  thick  as  the  gar 
ment — a  living  mass. 


16 


APPENDIX. 


DOCUMENT  No.  9. 

DR.  M.  M.  MARSH'S  TESTIMONY  AS  TO  STORES   SENT  TO  PRISONERS 
AT  ANDERSONVILLE.  GEORGIA. 


5,052 
6,993 
3,950 

601 
1,128 
2,100 
4,235 
1,520 
2,565 
5,385 

272 
2,120 

110 

140 
46 

534 
69 
12 

817 
3,147 


wool  shirts, 
wool  drawers, 
handkerchiefs, 
cotton  shirts, 
cotton  drawers, 
blouses, 
wool  pants. 
wool  hats, 
overcoats, 
blankets. 
quilts, 
pairs  shoes, 
cotton  coats, 
vests. 

cotton  pants, 
wrappers, 
jackets, 
overalls, 
pairs  slippers, 
towels. 


5,431  wool  socks. 

50  pillow  cases. 
258  bed  sacks. 
122  combs. 
100  tin  cups. 

2  boxes  tinware. 

4,092  pounds  condensed  milk. 
4,032  pounds  condensed  coffee. 
1,000  pounds  farina. 
1,000  pounds  corn  starch. 
4,212  pounds  tomatos. 
24  pounds  chocolate. 

3  boxes  lemon  juice. 
1  barrel  dried  apples. 

Ill  barrels  crackers, 
60  boxes  cocoa. 
7,200  pounds  beef  stock, 
Paper,  envelopes,  &c. 
Pepper,  mustard. 
One  box  tea,  70  pounds. 


APPENDIX. 


17 


DOCUMENT  No.  10. 

(From  Private  Diary  of  J.  W.  Merrill.) 

MARKET    PRICES     IN   C.     S.     M.     PRISON    HOSPITAL,    ANDERSONVILLE, 
GEORGIA,   1864. 


To  Sept.      $4  Confed. 
—  $1  Federal. 

Federal 
Money. 

Confederate 
Money. 

After  Sept.   $5  Confed. 
=  $1  Federal. 

Federal 
Money. 

Confederate 
Money. 

Apples,  each  

$   C.       $   C. 

0  10  to  0  25 

$  C.         $     C. 

0  40  to    1  00 

Onions,  each  

$  C.       $  C. 

0  25  to  0  50 

$  C.       $  C. 

1  00  to  2  00 

Butter,  Ib  

1  50 

6  00 

Peanuts,  pint  

0  30 

1  50 

Biscuit,  each  
Blackberries,  p't 

0  08  toO  15 
0  5fltoO  75 

0  32  to   0  60 
2  00  to  3  00 

Potatoesjrish,  qt 
Potat'e,  Sw't,  ea. 

1  00 
0  10  toO  15 

5  00 
0  50  to  0  75 

Whortleberries.  10  75 
Chestnuts,  each.  |o  01   » 
Chincopias,  pintll  00 
Eggs,  each  0  15toO  25 

3  00 
0  05 
5  00 
0  60  to   1  00 

Peaches,  each... 
Sugar  Cane  Stalk 
Red  Peppers,  ea. 

0  10  toO  75 
0  25 
0  10 

0  40to300 
1  25 
0  50 

Grapes,  each  0  01 

0  05 

Gingerbread,  ea. 

0  35  toO  50 

1  40  to  2  00 

Honey,       table- 

spoonful 

0  18 

0  50 

Molasses,  quart. 

3  00 

15  00 

Watermelons,  ea 

1  50  to  3  00 

6  00  to  12  00 

Muskmelons,  ea 

0  50tol  50 

2  00  to   6  00 

DOCUMENT  No.  11. 

(From  Private  Diary  of  J.  W.  Merrill.) 

MINUTES    OP     A   MEETING   OF    THE    SERGEANTS    IN   CHARGE   OP     DE 
TACHMENTS   OP    PRISONERS   CONFINED    AT   ANDERSONVILLE,   GA. 

At  a  meeting  of  tlie  sergeants  in  charge  of  the  various  detachments 
of  prisoners  confined  at  present  in  the  Anderson ville  Military  Prison, 
Georgia,  held  for  the  purpose  of  taking  some  action  to  properly  repre 
sent  the  present  condition  of  the  prisoners  to  our  Government  at 
Washington,  and  thereby  secure,  if  possible,  a  speedy  redress  of  the 
wrongs  complained  of,  the  following  committee  was  appointed,  who, 
after  due  consultation,  reported  the  following  preamble  and  resolu 
tions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

William  N.  Johnson,  Chairman. 
H.  C.  Higginson,  J.  S.  Banks,  E.  W.  Webb,  Committee. 

Apparently,  one  of  the  sad  effects  of  the  progress  of  this  terrible 
war  has  been  to  deaden  our  sympathies  and  make  us  more  selfish  than 
we  were  when  the  tocsin  of  the  battle  strife  first  sounded  in  the  land. 


18  APPENDIX. 

Perhaps  this  state  of  public  feeling  was  to  have  been  anticipated. 
The  frequency  with  which  you  hear  of  captures  in  battle,  and  the 
long  accounts  you  have  seen  of  their  treatment,  has  robbed  the  spec 
tacle  of  its  novelty,  and,  by  a  law  of  our  nature,  has  taken  off  the 
edge  of  our  sensibilities,  and  made  them  less  an  object  of  interest. 
No  one  can  know  the  horrors  of  imprisonment  in  crowded  and  filthy 
quarters  but  he  who  has  endured  it,  and  it  requires  a  brave  heart  not 
to  succumb.  But  hunger,  filth,  nakedness  and  disease  are  as  nothing 
compared  with  that  heart  sickness  which  weighs  prisoners  down, 
most  of  them  young  men  whose  terms  of  enlistment  have  expired, 
and  many  of  them  with  nothing  to  attach  them  to  the  cause  in  which 
they  suffer  but  principle  and  love  of  country  and  of  friends.  Does 
the  misfortune  of  being  taken  prisoners  make  us  It^s  the  object  of  in 
terest  and  value  to  our  Government  V  If  such,  you  plead  it  no  longer. 
These  are  no  common  men,  and  it  is  no  common  merit  that  they  call 
upon  you  to  aid  in  their  release  from  captivity. 

1st.  That  a  large  portion  of  the  prisoners  have  beeji  held  as  such  for 
periods  ranging  from  nine  to  fifteen  months,  subject  to  all  the  hard 
ships  and  privations  necessarily  incident  to  a  state  of  captivity  in  an 
enemy's  country. 

3d.  That  there  are  now  confined  in  the  prison  from  25,000  to  30,000 
men,  with  daily  accession  of  hundreds,  and  that  the  mortality  among 
them,  generated  by  various  causes,  such  as  change  of  climate,  diet 
and  want  of  proper  exercise,  is  becoming  truly  frightful  to  contem 
plate,  and  is  rapidly  increasing  in  virulence,  decimating  their  ranks 
weekly  by  hundreds. 

3d.  In  view  of  the  foregoing  facts,  we,  your  petitioners,  most  earn 
estly  yet  respectfully  pray,  that  some  action  be  immediately  taken  to 
effect  our  speedy  release,  either  on  parole  or  exchange,  the  dictates 
both  of  justice  and  humanity  alike  demanding  such  action  on  the  part 
of  our  Government. 

4th.  We  shall  all  look  forward  with  a  hopeful  confidence  that  some 
thing  will  be  speedily  done  in  this  matter,  believing  that  a  proper 
statement  of  the  facts  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  secure  a  redress  of  the 
grievances  complained  of. 

5th.  The  above  has  been  read  to  each  detachment  by  its  respective 
sergeant,  and  has  been  approved  by  the  men,  who  have  unanimously 
authorized  each  sergeant  to  sign,  as  will  and  deed  of  the  whole. 

ANDBRSONVILLE,  GEO. 


APPENDIX. 


19 


DOCUMENT  No.  12. 

(From  Private  Diary  of  J.  W.  Metrill.) 

MORTALITY   AT   C.    S.   M.    PRISON   HOSPITAL   DURING   THE   MONTHS   OF 
AUGUST,    SEPTEMBER   AND   OCTOBER,    1864. 


AUG  1 

74 

SEPT  1 

105 

OCT.  1  

.  82 

2 

73 

2 

..104 

2  

.  ...  48 

3 

.  75 

3  ... 

113 

3  

.  ..  40 

4 

75 

4 

94 

4  

66 

5 

«  90 

5 

...  98 

5  

46 

6  . 

103 

6... 

.  .  .  .  105 

6  

.  ...  49 

7 

71 

7 

63 

7...  . 

53 

8 

95 

8 

..111 

8  

52 

9 

95 

9 

76 

9  

.  ...  34 

10 

85 

10 

99 

10 

..  64 

11 

103 

11 

99 

11  

.  .  .  103 

12 

81 

12 

..111 

12  

....  76 

13 

.  .  .109 

13  ... 

...  78 

13  

.  ..  60 

14 

114 

14 

102 

14  . 

.  .  54 

15 

120 

15 

83 

15  

....  47 

16 

107 

16  ' 

.100 

16  

....  51 

17  .  .. 

114 

17  

106 

17  

....  48 

18 

88 

18 

129 

18  .  .  . 

53 

19 

101 

19 

90 

19 

.  55 

20 

107 

20 

99 

20 

.  41 

21 

86 

21 

82 

21  

41 

22 

122 

22 

61 

22  

....  50 

23  .  .. 

.  ..127 

23  . 

82 

23  

....  51 

24  .. 

102 

24  

77 

24  

.  .  .  .  67 

25 

98 

25 

72 

25  

....  22 

26  .. 

.  .  .  103 

26  . 

.  .  51 

26  ..  .. 

....  71 

27  

93 

27  

83 

27  

....  40 

28 

90 

28 

75 

28  

....  37 

29  .. 

.  .  .  105 

29  .  . 

.  .  69 

29  

.  .  .  .  28 

30 

95 

30 

60 

30  .  .. 

...  39 

31 

92 

31  

.  ...  27 

Total.. 

.  .2,993 

Total.. 

...2,677 

Total... 

..  1^595 

20 


APPENDIX. 


DOCUMENT  No.  13. 

(From  Private  Diary  of  J.  W.  Merrill.) 

REPORT    OF  ELECTION   HELD  IN  ANDERSONVILLE  PRISON  HOSPITAL, 

TUESDAY,  NOV.    8,    1864. 

(Written  by  8.  M.  Riker.} 

On  the  evening  of  November  7th,  1864,  the  prisoners  of  the  C.  S. 
Military  Prison  Hospital,  Andersonville,  Ga.,  held  a  meeting  for  the 
discussion  of  the  opposing  candidates  for  the  office  of  President  of  the 
United  States  for  the  ensuing  four  years,  having  first  obtained  per 
mission  from  Capt.  Wirz,  Military  Commander  of  Prison,  to  carry  on 
an  informal  election  in  the  prison. 

On  motion,  Mr.  Smith  was  voted  chairman  of  the  meeting.  Other 
offices,  owing  to  existing  circumstances,  were  ignored.  » 

The  meeting  was  opened  by  singing  the  national  anthem,  "  Colum 
bia,  the  Gem  of  the  Ocean,"  conducted  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Merrill ;  after 
which  Dr.  J.  W.  Fay  mounted  the  rostrum,  and  edified  the  meeting 
by  an  able  address.  He  held  that  the  present  administration,  having 
sworn,  upon  entering  upon  its  duties,  to  carry  out  the  laws  and  Con 
stitution  of  the  United  States,  had  been  faithful  to  its  oath,  acting 
wisely  and  just  in  every  emergency.  He  considered  the  fealty  of 
General  McClellan  to  the  Union  very  doubtful,  owing  to  his  conduct 
after  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  his  intercourse  and  association  with 
such  traitors  and  copperheads  as  Judge  Woodward  of  Pennsylvania, 
Vallandigham,  Hall,  Wood  Brothers,  &c.,  of  the  Chicago  Convention. 

The  Doctor  was  replied  to  by  S.  M.  Riker  in  a  few  remarks,  sustain 
ing  the  character  of  General  McClellan  for  truthfulness  and  faithful 
ness  to  his  country  and  the  cause  for  which  he  had  fought.  Mr. 
Riker  then  made  a  long,  animated  speech.  He  was  loudly  applauded, 
the  conciseness  of  his  arguments  and  palpableness  of  his  conclusions 
having  a  telling  effect  on  his  hearers. 

Mr.  Delaney  replied  to  Mr.  Riker  in  a  very  terse  manner,  denounc 
ing  Old  Abe  with  his  greenbacks,  and  establishing,  beyond  a  doubt, 
that  his  education  and  politics  were  of  the  real  "  hard  shell"  demo 
cratic  order. 

Mr.  Lathrop  being  then  called  for,  took  the  stand  and  addressed 
the  meeting  for  about  fifteen  minutes  in  an  easy,  eloquent  manner.  He 
upheld  the  present  administration,  and  was  for  carrying  on  this  war  to 


APPENDIX.  21 

the  bitter  end.  He  would  advocate  no  treaty  of  peace  that  would  in 
any  manner  compromise  the  people  of  the  North,  but  would,  if  neces 
sary,  enlist  for  four,  eight  or  sixteen  years — longer,  if  necessary — to 
conquer  the  rebels. 

Mr.  Waterbury  took  the  stand.  He  claimed  that  the  nigger  was 
prized  more  highly  by  the  present  administration  than  the  white  sol 
dier — that  a  dozen  niggers  were  the  cause  of  the  Government's  ceas 
ing  to  exchange  prisoners,  and  niggers  were  the  cause  of  our  now 
being  prisoners  in  the  Confederacy.  He  considered  he  had  been  de 
ceived  by  the  Government,  and  that  the  soldiers  of  our  armies  were, 
as  a  whole,  swindled. 

Loud  calls  were  made  for  Mr.  Bennett,  who  came  forward,  and, 
smiling  all  over,  proclaimed  for  honest  Old  Abe.  He  spoke  for  some 
twenty  minutes  in  a  very  racy  and  humorous  strain,  not  without 
effect,  as  the  frequent  bursts  of  applause  gave  abundant  evidence.  He 
admitted  General  McClellan  to  be  a  man  of  fine  intellect  and  abilities, 
but  much  preferred  to  ride  the  old  horse,  who  was  still  able  to  carry 
him,  and  had  never  yet  stumbled.  He  considered  the  anaconda 
business  of  little  Mac  played  out.  This  allowing  the  body  to  lie  in 
the  way  of  the  advancing  rebels,  while  the  tail  swings  around  and 
crushes  them,  was  not  the  one  that  would  elect  him  to  the  highest 
office  in  the  favor  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  anaconda 
game  was  a  thorough  fizzle,  in  his  estimation. 

Mr.  B.  resumed  his  seat  amidst  thunders  of  applause,  and  was  fol 
lowed  by  Mr.  Burns,  who  edified  the  audience  with  a  reviewal  of  the 
arguments  of  his  predecessor,  deducing  therefrom  an  argument  in 
favor  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 

The  Chairman  of  the  meeting  closed  with  some  pointed  arguments 
favoring  General  McClellan  for  the  next  President  of  the  United 
States. 

Throughout  the  evening,  the  choir,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  J.  W. 
Merrill,  furnished  the  meeting  with  fine  singing.  "  The  Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  "  Hail  Columbia,"  "  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  "  Rally  Round 
the  Flag,  Boys,"  "  Hoist  up  the  Flag,"  and  others,  were  rendered 
with  great  taste  and  effect,  and  received  by  the  audience  with  much 
applause. 

Mr.  William  West  sang  the  "  American  Star,"  when  the  meeting 
adjourned. 


22  APPENDIX. 

All  were  highly  gratified  with  the  evening's  performance.'  The 
greatest  harmony  and  good  feeling  existed. 

The  Committee  congratulate  themselves  on  the  attainment  of  the 
object  of  the  meeting,  namely,  amusement.  Mingled  with  amuse 
ment  was  an  air  of  earnestness  which  did  credit  to  the  assembly,  as 
citizens  of  America,  and  evidenced  the  degree  of  interest  that  they 
felt  in  a  matter  of  such  vital  importance  to  the  country  for  which  they 
are  sworn  to  fight.  Each  and  every  one  seemed  to  feel,  that  though 
their  votes  could  have  no  visible  effect  on  the  struggle  of  the  next 
day,  in  which  the  whole  loyal  population  of  the  North  were  to  en 
gage,  yet  the  principles  involved  and  expressed  would  be  the  same. 

On  the  8th  inst.  an  election  for  President  was  held.  Mr.  M.  E. 
Hogan,  of  Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  Magistrate. 

Judges  of  Election — First  Division  :  John  Dunmore,  One  Hundredth 
Ohio  ;  A.  A.  Walker,  Sixteenth  Connecticut.  Second  Division  :  E.  H. 
Lathrop,  Eighty-first  Illinois ;  William  Smith,  Sixth  Michigan. 
Third  Division  :  T.  M.  Seaton,  Eighteenth  New  York ;  John  Corn 
wall.  Fourth  Division  :  J.  W.  Merrill,  Twenty-fourth  New  York 
Battery  ;  Charles  Dunmore,  Sixteenth  Illinois  Cavalry. 

The  day  was  rainy,  and  just  the  kind  for  an  election,  which  went 
off  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 

At  six  P.  M.  the  result  was  announced,  the  camp  having  given  a 
vote  of  150  majority  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  President  of  the 
United  States.  1,740  votes  in  all  were  polled ;  Lincoln  receiving 
945,  and  McClellan  795. 


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